On Sunday April 5, 2009, the fifth elections, since the Republic of Moldova was proclaimed independent, will take place. All Moldovan citizens over the age of 18, with the exception of individuals declared incapacitated or sentenced to imprisonment by a final court decision for serious crimes, will elect a new parliament which will be the supreme representative body of the people and the only legislative authority of the state.
Parlamentul Republicii Moldova is a unicameral assembly with 101 seats to serve a 4-year term. The president is elected by an indirect vote of the members of the parliament for a period of 4 years. The future parliament will have to elect a new president because the current president of the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, is at the end of his second term. The new president has to appoint a prime minister as the head of government who in turn assembles a cabinet, both subject to parliamentary approval.
To gain representation in the parliament, political parties have to overcome a 6 per cent threshold, and independent candidates must obtain at least three per cent of valid votes nationally. Especially for smaller parties the 6 per cent threshhold is nearly an insurmountable obstacle to enter the parliament. For an election to be valid, at least 50 per cent of the registered voters must take part in the elections. In case of a lower turnout new elections will be held two weeks later.
Contrary to the Autonomous Region Gagauzia, the situation in Transnistria, the secessionist region on the left bank of the Dniester, is more complicated. Approximately 200,000 people from Transnistria hold the Moldovan citizenship and therefore there will be 10 polling stations near the border. The situation of the approximately 1 million Moldovans abroad is still not clear yet, as their only chance to vote is directly in the Moldovan embassies in the country they stay.
The OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM), over 3000 national and international observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results. Furthermore, observers will closely monitor the campaign activities, media coverage, the legislative framework and its implementation, the media situation, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, and the resolution of the election disputes.
List of the participating political partys:
Centrist Union of Moldova, Christian Democratic People’s Party, Conservative Party, Democratic Party of Moldova, European Action Movement, Labor Union “Patria-Rodina”, Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, Liberal Party, Our Moldova Alliance, Communist Party of Moldova, Party of Spiritual Development “United Moldova”, Republican Party of Moldova, Social-Democratic Party of Moldova, Social-Liberal Party, Socio-political Movement for Nation and Country
The most significant slogans:
„Building European Moldova Together!” – Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova
„Moldova deserves more!” – Democratic Party of Moldova
„For Nation, Country, Traditions!” – Centrist Union of Moldova
„Moldova without corruption!” – Social-political Movement
„Vote for Change!” – Liberal Party
„Stop Communism! Green Light for Moldova!” – Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova
„Republic of Moldova – A Successful Country!” – Christian Democratic People’s Party
The centre of the campaign activities is Chisinau. The Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova and the Social Democratic Party spent the largest amounts on their campaigns.
Moldovarious.com was out for you to catch the best impressions of the election campaign!