Republic of Moldova
The Republic of Moldova, located in Eastern Europe, performs in the middle range across all categories in the Global State of Democracy framework. It is amongst the top 25 per cent in the world in terms of its performance in Effective Parliament, Political and Social Group Equality, and Gender Equality. Over the past five years, it has experience notable advances in multiple factors of Representation (Credible Elections, Effective Parliament), Rights (Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Economic Equality, Gender Equality), and Rule of Law (Absence of Corruption, Predictable Enforcement and Personal Integrity and Security). It has not experienced any significant declines in that time period. Moldova is a lower-middle-income country and is among the poorest in Europe, although growth rates have been strong since the early 2000s. The main sectors include agriculture, food processing, natural resources, and services. The Moldovan economy is also the most reliant on remittances in all of Europe.
In the three decades since its independence from the Soviet Union (in 1991), the country has undergone a slow transition to democracy. Moldova has struggled especially with issues of corruption, abuse of power, and state capture. From 2013 to 2019, the country was under the effective control of oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc, who used state power to siphon off $1 billion from Moldova’s three largest banks. As corruption became a significant roadblock hindering economic growth, it also became one of the most dominant issues in the country’s politics. In successive elections in 2020 and 2021, Moldovans voted in strong numbers to elect pro-European Union (EU), anti-corruption reformers. Correspondently, the country has made major progress in Absence of Corruption in recent years, rising from 0.33 in 2018 to 0.54 in 2023.
Moldova is an ethnically diverse state with clear divides between pro-EU and pro-Russia sentiments. The separatist enclave of Transnistria is composed primarily of Russian speakers who favour close ties to Moscow, and pro-Russian sentiment is also widespread in the autonomous territory of Gagauzia. While ethnic Moldovans account for over 75 per cent of the population, there is significant disagreement as to whether their language and identity should be called Moldovan or Romanian. Historically, Moldova was part of Romania, and even today many Moldovans hold dual nationality. Large numbers of Moldovans favour reunification with Romania, and this number has grown in recent years.
GSoD Indices show that Moldova has made steady progress on gender equality in a timespan of two decades as well as more recently over the last five years. This may be attributed to the adoption of a series of laws and policies including on the prohibition of discrimination and women’s political empowerment. Yet gender equality remains challenged by violence against women, and inequality in health, employment, and unpaid care responsibilities.
Moldova is a country in transition, but its recent progress is notable. Given the governing party’s declared commitment to the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms, it will be important to watch potential continued growth in Representation, Rule of Law and Rights. In 2022, Moldova gained EU candidate status, although the road to membership is expected to be long. It will be important to watch how the Russian war of aggression impacts Moldova, especially as it has already enflamed tensions with Transnistria and has impacted basic welfare. Furthermore, high emigration rates and poor infrastructure hamper economic growth, in turn making the work of combatting graft and corruption more difficult.
Last Updated: September 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
March 2025
Shor-affiliated pro-Russian politicians face corruption charges
Moldovan MPs Alexander Nesterovschi and Irina Lozovan were sentenced to 12 and six years’ imprisonment (respectively) in absentia in March for their roles in laundering money for the fugitive Russia-based oligarch Ilan Shor to finance pro-Russian political politicians in Moldova. The cases mark the first convictions of sitting politicians as part of the anti-corruption investigators’ investigation into Shor’s network in the country. Both MPs are believed to have fled the country with the assistance of Russian diplomats. Another suspected participant in the scheme is the Bashkan (‘head’) of the autonomous region of Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutsul, who was detained on 28 March at Chisinau Airport while attempting to board a flight to Moscow. A Chisinau court placed Gutsul in preventive detention for an initial period of 20 days, marking the first time a sitting Bashkan has been arrested.
Sources: Reuters, The Moscow Times, Newsmaker, International IDEA
October 2024
Maia Sandu wins presidential election and EU referendum passes
Moldova held a two-round presidential election on 20 October and 3 November. The incumbent President Maia Sandu of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) led in the first round with 42.49 per cent of the vote, ahead of Alexandr Stoianoglo of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), but short of the 50 per cent threshold required to avoid a second round. Sandu won the second round with 54.34 per cent of the votes. A referendum on enshrining European Union (EU) accession in Moldova’s constitution was also on the ballot on 20 October and passed by a narrow margin, with 50.46 per cent in favour. Voter turnout increased; turnout for the first round rose to 51.68 per cent from 48.54 per cent in 2020 and to 54.29 per cent from 52.76 per cent in the second round.
Sources: British Broadcasting Corporation, Comisia Electorala Centrala, Moldova Matters, The Guardian, Reuters, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
September 2024
Government suspends access to seven websites
On 25 September, the Moldovan Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) suspended access to seven, primarily Russian websites, including RIA Novosti, and the website of a movement called Nu Acum, which has advocated against Moldova’s accession to the EU. The SIS has argued that these websites constitute a threat to national security ahead of the presidential election and referendum on EU accession on 20 October. The headquarters of the Moldovan Broadcasting Agency along with three other government buildings have also recently been defaced by vandals pouring yellow paint on the buildings. Authorities have stated that the perpetrators behind the attack have received training and financing in Russia and acted in an effort to stir instability in the country prior to the elections. The upcoming presidential election and EU referendum have resulted in unusually high tension in Moldova, with negative consequences for freedom of expression and the press.
Sources: Kyiv Independent, Reuters, 1Lurer, RadioFreeEurope
June 2024
General Prosecutor appointed after years of delays
Ion Munteanu was named General Prosecutor of Moldova on 1 June, marking the first time since 2021 that the office was neither vacant nor held by an interim or acting official. The appointment comes two months after the March 2024 deadline to appoint a General Prosecutor, a key condition of Moldova’s European Union accession processes. It is seen as a key test of the ability of the government to reform the country’s inefficient and often-corrupt judiciary. Irregularities derailed the previous final stage of the selection process in February 2024, but Munteanu received the highest scores in the latest round.
Sources: Ziarul de Gardă, Moldpres, TV8, International IDEA
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