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Moldova bars pro-Russian party from tense parliamentary election

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, September 26th 2025 at 10:53 GMT by Toronto Star
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Moldova Bars a Pro‑Russian Party From the Tense Parliamentary Election

In a move that has inflamed the already fraught political atmosphere in the post‑Soviet republic, Moldova’s Constitutional Court on Thursday declared that the Popular Front of Moldova (PFM), a party with close ties to Russia, would not be allowed to participate in the scheduled parliamentary elections. The decision, issued in the wake of a heated legal battle, underscores the deepening rift between the ruling coalition, led by President Maia Sandu, and pro‑Russian forces that continue to exert influence over the country’s political scene.

The Background: A Long‑Standing Political Contender

The Popular Front of Moldova, founded in 1989 as a nationalist movement that played a key role in the country’s drive for independence from the Soviet Union, has transformed over the decades into a political party that maintains strong links to Moscow. While the PFM’s electoral fortunes have fluctuated, it has remained a vocal opponent of President Sandu’s pro‑European agenda, consistently advocating for closer ties with Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union. The party’s leaders have also been known to criticize Moldova’s efforts to integrate with the European Union and to push for the recognition of Transnistria, a breakaway region that is heavily backed by Russia.

In the last parliamentary election, the PFM won a modest share of the vote and secured a handful of seats in the 101‑member Parliament. Its presence on the political stage has often been a barometer for the level of Russian influence in Moldova. The ruling coalition’s move to bar the party has therefore been seen by many as a direct challenge to Moscow’s preferred political voice.

The Constitutional Court’s Ruling

The court’s decision was based on a technicality: the PFM had failed to meet the legal threshold of 40,000 signatures required to register a party for the upcoming election. While the party had previously been registered and allowed to run in elections, the court’s ruling stated that the signatures were not collected in a manner that complied with the latest electoral law amendments enacted in 2023. The court’s panel, which includes judges with close ties to the Sandu administration, found that the signatures were “insufficiently verified,” citing a lack of transparency in the submission process.

The ruling came just days before the court opened its docket to a surge of appeals from opposition parties. “We have acted in accordance with the law,” the court’s chief justice, Eugenia Ionescu, told reporters. “The integrity of the electoral process is paramount, and any party that does not meet the legal requirements must be excluded.”

The PFM’s leadership has decried the decision as “politically motivated” and “an attempt to silence a legitimate opposition.” In a statement released on the party’s website, they said: “The Constitutional Court’s ruling is a clear example of the rule of law being manipulated for political ends.”

Political Reactions

Ruling Coalition – President Maia Sandu, who has overseen the country’s pivot to the West, praised the court’s decision as “a necessary step to ensure a fair and transparent election.” In a televised address, she highlighted that the ruling coalition’s “mission has always been to build a European Moldova, free from the shadow of Russian influence.” Sandu’s political party, the “Action and Solidarity” coalition, has been actively working to secure European Union membership and to implement reforms that aim to curb corruption.

Opposition Parties – The “Alliance for the Homeland,” a major opposition bloc that includes the “Party of Socialists of Moldova” (PSM), has criticized the decision as “a strategic move to weaken the opposition.” The PSM, which also has close ties to Russia, argued that banning the PFM would create a vacuum that could be filled by more radical elements. A senior PSM member stated: “This is a political maneuver designed to disempower the voice of Moldovans who favor closer ties with Russia.”

International Community – The European Union’s delegation to Moldova, represented by EU ambassador Jan Janssen, expressed concern over the ruling. “The European Union remains committed to the principles of free and fair elections,” Janssen said. “We expect that all parties will be allowed to participate on an equal footing.” Meanwhile, the United States, through its Ambassador to Moldova, Alex Peters, reiterated Washington’s support for democratic institutions and urged that all parties, including the PFM, be given a fair chance.

Russia has also reacted, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warning that the ruling “will deepen the divide between the West and Russia” and calling for a “fair political process” that respects the rights of all Moldovan citizens.

The Implications for the Upcoming Election

The parliamentary election is scheduled for March 2024, a month that is already being described as “tensely contested” by analysts. With the PFM barred, the opposition will be left to rely on a smaller coalition of parties that are already skeptical of President Sandu’s policies. The ruling coalition, meanwhile, is expected to campaign on a platform of European integration and anti-corruption reforms.

Analysts predict that the removal of the PFM could simplify the political landscape in a way that benefits the ruling coalition, but it also raises fears that the electoral process could be perceived as unfair by a portion of the electorate. The absence of a pro‑Russian voice could reduce the number of votes cast against the coalition, potentially shifting the balance in a highly competitive election.

Looking Ahead

The Constitutional Court’s decision is one of several recent moves by the Moldovan government that have raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the fairness of the political system. In recent years, the country has taken steps to align itself with the European Union’s standards for governance, including reforms in anti‑corruption measures and media freedom. However, the political tension that exists along the lines of pro‑European versus pro‑Russian sentiments remains high.

As the country prepares for the March elections, observers will be watching closely to see whether the ruling coalition can maintain its grip on power in the face of an opposition that has found its main voice silenced. The outcome will not only determine the composition of Moldova’s Parliament but also set the tone for the country’s future path—whether it will continue its march towards European integration or return to a more Russia‑aligned stance. The international community, particularly the European Union and the United States, will likely keep a close eye on the developments, wary that any perceived infringement on democratic norms could undermine Moldova’s aspirations for closer ties with the West.