Snap parliamentary elections were held in Moldova on 11 July 2021. Following the resignation of Ion Chicu, the position of Prime Minister became vacant, with the Parliament being obligated to form a new government within three months. After the expiration of the constitutionally mandated period and two failed attempts to win parliamentary approval for the proposed cabinets, the Constitutional Court ruled on 15 April that the circumstances justifying a dissolution of the parliament were met. President Maia Sandu signed the decree dissolving the Parliament on 28 April and snap parliamentary elections were called on.
The Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) received 52.80% of the vote and won 63 seats, obtaining a majority in the 101-seat parliament. The alliance Electoral Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BECS) received 27.17% of the vote and won 32 seats, while the Șor Party received 5.74% of the votes and won six seats. No other party or alliance reached the electoral threshold required to win a seat.[1]
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) assessed the elections as being competitive and well-run despite the inadequate handling of election disputes and campaign finance issues.[3] The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) noted that the procedure was held in line with the requirements of the Electoral Code. The CIS observers did not report any violations that could influence the results of the elections.[4]
The Constitution of Moldova mandates that a government must be formed within three months of official results of parliamentary elections being proclaimed by the Constitutional Court. The results of the 24 February 2019 elections were confirmed on 9 March. On 8 June a coalition government led by Maia Sandu was formed by the Party of Socialists (PSRM) and the ACUM alliance. However, the Democratic Party (PDM) petitioned the Constitutional Court, claiming that the government had not been formed in time. The Court interpreted the three-month deadline as 90 days, which meant the deadline had been 7 June, and concluded that snap elections should be held. The following day the Court suspended President Igor Dodon (a former PSRM leader) from exercising his presidential powers and duties for failing to dissolve parliament, and appointed former prime minister Pavel Filip of the PDM as acting president. Filip subsequently issued a decree calling for early elections for 6 September.[5]
Dodon and the PSRM–ACUM coalition called the process illegal. The governments of Russia, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom all recognised the newly-formed Sandu cabinet as the legitimate government. On 14 June Filip stepped down and allowed the PSRM–ACUM government to take office. However, the new government was subsequently ousted in a motion of no confidence in Parliament on 12 November in a dispute over a draft law assumed by the government to delegate a part of its plenary powers to the Prime Minister to propose a "shortlist" with the candidates for Prosecutor General's position.[6][7]
Another new PSRM–PDM government, headed by Ion Chicu, was formed on 14 November 2019.[8] The Democratic Party left the coalition on 7 November 2020, during presidential elections, to allow the formation of a new government under the new president.[9] The Chicu cabinet remained in office as a minority government, supported by the Șor Party, with the PDM ministers replaced by independents. Former prime minister and PAS (ACUM) leader Maia Sandu was elected president on 15 November 2020. Chicu resigned as Prime Minister on 23 December, hours ahead of a PAS-sponsored motion of no confidence.[10]
Sandu planned to appoint Natalia Gavrilița to the position of Prime Minister twice in order to trigger early elections, as under the constitution of Moldova, two failures of Parliament to approve a new government within 45 days of the first request will lead to the dissolution of parliament.[11] Sandu first nominated Gavrilita to the position on 27 January 2021,[11] with her candidacy being unanimously voted down by the parliament on 11 February.[12] The PSRM and its allies then proposed Mariana Durleșteanu for the position with the support of 54 of 101 MPs, but Sandu instead re-nominated Gavrilița on 11 February 2021.[13] However, the Constitutional Court ruled on 23 February 2021 that Sandu should not have nominated Gavrilita twice.[13] Sandu nominated Igor Grosu to the position on 16 March after Durleșteanu withdrew her candidacy.[14][15]
Grosu failed to get his government approved due to the socialist-led opposition boycotting the vote, which resulted in the vote failing due to a lack of a quorum.[16] The two failed attempts made early parliamentary elections possible,[17] and Sandu asked the Constitutional Court to verify the constitutionality of dissolving parliament and holding snap elections.[18] However, on 31 March Parliament voted to impose a 60-day state of emergency, during which a snap election could not be held, to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] On 15 April the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of dissolving parliament.[19] On 28 April the Constitutional Court declared the state of emergency voted by the Parliament on 31 March unconstitutional as the Decision of Parliament which instituted it was adopted in violation of the rules of procedure, having failed to establish why exactly the executive need extended powers.[20] Later the same day, president Maia Sandu signed the dissolution decree of the Parliament and established the snap parliamentary elections to be held on 11 July 2021.[21]
This is a list of the parties that were represented in the parliament before the elections and the parties that submitted their list for participating in it.[23]
OSCE Special Co-ordinator Ditmir Bushati observing election procedures in ChișinăuClosing of polling station in Chișinău
The Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) received 52.80% of the vote and won an absolute majority in parliament, taking 63 of the 101 seats, an increase of 48. President of Moldova Maia Sandu stated after the election: "I hope that today is the end of a hard era for Moldova, I hope today is the end of the reign of thieves over Moldova."[24]
The Electoral Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BECS) won 32 seats, a loss of three compared to the previous elections. President of the Party of Socialists (PSRM) Igor Dodon stated after the election: "I appeal to the future deputies of the new parliament, we must not allow a new political crisis in Moldova. It would be nice to have a period of political stability."[25]
The Șor Party (ȘP) became the third and smallest one with parliamentary representation, obtaining six seats with 5.74% of the vote and thereby conserving its parliamentary status from the previous legislature.[24]
On 23 July, the Constitutional Court of Moldova confirmed the results of the election.[2]
Moldova: President Maia Sandu said this was "the end of the reign of thieves in Moldova. The challenges are great, people need results and must feel the benefits of a clean parliament and an honest and competent government." She called for "the energy of today's vote to transform Moldova."[26]
Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova: PSRM president Igor Dodon conceded and expressed disappointment at the result, saying in a statement: "We obviously wanted a higher overall percentage." He congratulated his opponents but warned that his forces would be watching closely because it was dangerous for one party to have "the total monopoly on Moldovan politics."[27]
Commonwealth of Independent States: Dmitry Kobitsky, head of the CIS IPA monitoring mission, said: "Members of the mission attended the vote counting and noted that this procedure was held in line with the requirements of the Electoral Code. The CIS observers did not report any violations that could influence the results of the elections".[28]
Renew Europe: Renew Europe issued the statement: "Victory for democracy in Moldova! Congratulations to Moldova! This is a victory for democracy, a victory for Europe, a victory for an extraordinary woman and a victory for the Moldovan citizens who are eager for their country to finally take the path of economic, social and political reforms."[29]
Germany: Federal Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said: "Congratulations, Maia Sandu, on the great election victory of PAS with 52,5%! This is very strong support for you and the course for reforms and the fight against corruption in the Republic of Moldova. Great news!"[30]
Latvia: Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs said: "Very convincing victory of reform and European agenda in Moldova elections. Now the real implementation of promised changes is key, Latvia is ready to provide all the necessary support to our Moldovan friends. Congratulations, Moldova!"[31]
Lithuania: Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said: "Congratulations Maia Sandu on a landslide victory of PAS in early parliamentary elections and the people of Moldova – on choosing the path of reforms, transparency & European integration. You can count on Lithuania's support!"[32]
Romania: President Klaus Iohannis said: "Congratulations to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova for their civic spirit and clear choice for reforms, the rule of law and European integration! Congratulations Maia Sandu for courage, perseverance and vision! Romania will be with the Republic of Moldova in supporting the reforms and the European course!"[33]
Slovakia: Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Korčok said: "I congratulate the people of Moldova on succesfull [sic] conduct of democratic parliamentary elections & the strong confirmation of their will to proceed on European path."[34]
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "Congratulations to my colleague President of Moldova Maia Sandu on a convincing victory of democratic pro-European political forces, in particular the PAS party, in the parliamentary elections! This is an important step for a friendly on the path of reforms & European aspirations!"[35]
Analysis and aftermath
PAS was the first party to win an absolute majority of seats on its own since April 2009, and the first to win an absolute majority of votes since 2001. It was also the first time that neither PSRM nor PCRM won the most votes or seats since 1994. Former PAS coalition partner DA also lost all of its seats, as did the Democratic Party of Moldova (formerly connected to oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, who fled the country in 2019), which was no longer represented in parliament for the first time in over a decade. Additionally, no party with a unionist platform entered the parliament.[36][37][38]
On 23 July, court chairwoman Domnica Manole said in a statement: "The Moldovan Constitutional Court rules to confirm the results of the snap parliamentary elections that Moldova held on 11 July 2021, and to recognize the mandates of the parliamentmembers as valid."[2]
The first session of the new parliament was held on 26 July and was chaired by the oldest deputy, Eduard Smirnov.[39]
On 29 July, Igor Grosu (the interim leader of PAS) was elected president of the parliament. Natalia Gavrilița was appointed as Prime Minister-designate the following day.[40][41]
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