On November 6, pro-government media outlets TV Imedi, MPN.ge, Newshub.ge, and Frontnews.ge, published a statement by Irakli Kobakhidze. In it, the Prime Minister asserts that Moldova lacks political and media pluralism, with opposition parties banned and, effectively, no opposition MPs remaining in parliament.
The claim that opposition parties have been banned in Moldova and that no opposition MPs remain in parliament is false. In Moldova’s Parliament, the ruling party holds 63 seats, the opposition bloc has 32 seats, and the remaining seats are held by independent deputies. The only party currently facing restrictions is that of pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor, who is accused of money laundering. However, other members of his party are still permitted to run as independents or under a different party.
The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova operates under a proportional representation system, allowing various political parties to participate in legislative processes. Moldova’s 101-member legislature, elected in July 2021, includes both the ruling Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) and an opposition bloc. The pro-European PAS holds a majority with 63 seats, while the opposition Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BECS) occupies 32 seats. The remaining seats are held by independent deputies, including former members of the “Shor” party. The “Bloc of Communists and Socialists” is an alliance between the Party of Socialists (PSRM), led by Igor Dodon, and the Party of Communists (PCRM), headed by Vladimir Voronin. This bloc frequently criticizes the ruling pro-European PAS and President Maia Sandu for their reforms and pro-Western stance, positioning themselves as defenders of Moldova against foreign influence, particularly from the EU and NATO. Alongside these major parties, independent deputies also contribute to Moldova’s parliamentary composition.
While “Action and Solidarity” holds a majority, the presence of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists, along with independent deputies, ensures a degree of political plurality.
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Which political parties have been banned in Moldova?
In recent years, Moldova has notably taken legal action against several Russia-linked political parties and candidates, primarily due to allegations of unlawful foreign influence and efforts to destabilize the country.
In June 2023, Moldova’s Constitutional Court declared the “Shor” party unconstitutional due to its alleged connections to Russian intelligence and involvement in organizing protests aimed at destabilizing the country. Party leader Ilan Shor, a fugitive oligarch residing in Israel, was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for fraud and money laundering. Despite the court’s ruling, party members retained their parliamentary seats as independent deputies. In March 2023, however, Moldova’s Constitutional Court repealed a legislative amendment that prohibited individuals associated with banned parties from running in future elections. This decision allowed former members of banned parties to retain certain electoral rights, enabling them to run as independents or under a different party affiliation.
Before the November 2023 local elections, Moldova’s election commission barred the “Chance” party from participating, citing national security concerns amid suspicions of Russian funding and influence over electoral processes. Party members were also linked to fugitive Ilan Shor. However, this decision was subsequently overturned by a Moldovan court.
In 2023, Ilan Shor announced the formation of the Victory Bloc in Moscow, aiming to unite “Chance” and other pro-Russian factions, including the Chance Party and others. Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission denied the bloc’s application to participate in the 2023 presidential elections due to undisclosed campaign financing sources and incomplete documentation. Additionally, Ludmila Corsun, another pro-Russian candidate from the bloc, was refused registration for not meeting the Romanian language requirement for presidential candidates.
Banning political parties is a severe measure typically reserved for cases where parties engage in violence, hate speech, terrorism, or pose threats to the constitutional order. According to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Venice Commission guidelines, such bans should only be implemented under specific circumstances and must strictly adhere to the principles of proportionality and fair trial.
Notably, In the 2024 presidential elections, Maia Sandu, whose country supports EU membership, faced off against former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, backed by Moldova’s pro-Russian “Socialist Party.” In 2023, Stoianoglo was dismissed by the Moldovan parliament on charges of abuse of power and potential misconduct. Despite these allegations, he was still permitted to run in Moldova’s 2024 presidential elections.
Claims about party bans in Moldova have circulated previously. For more details, refer to the “Myth Detector” article:
Irakli Kobakhidze also addressed media pluralism in Moldova, noting that these restrictions have exclusively impacted pro-Russian media outlets. The channels that had their broadcasting licenses revoked are linked to pro-Russian oligarchs. Additional information is available in the Myth Detector article:
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