Parliamentary elections were held in Moldova on 30 November 2014. The result was described as "more a loss than a victory" of the incumbent pro-European coalition, with center-right parties divided by sharp tensions. The pro-Russian Party of Socialists (PSRM), composed of former communists, emerged as the largest party in Parliament, gaining 20.51% of votes and winning 25 of the 101 seats. The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), previously the largest party, dropped from 38 to 21 seats.

Electoral system The 101 members of Parliament were elected by party-list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. There were four separate electoral thresholds: 11% for electoral blocs with three or more parties, 9% for two-party electoral blocs, 6% for single parties or organisations, and 2% for independent candidates; the thresholds for parties and coalitions had been increased since the previous elections, having previously been 9% for coalitions of three or more parties, 7% for coalitions of two parties and 4% for parties running alone.

Documents for registration of electoral candidates had to be submitted to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) between 3 and 30 October 2014. Once formally registered by the CEC, the candidates were allowed to begin campaigning.

Voter turnout had to be over 33 percent for the election to be validated.

Parties and coalitions Below is a list of the main parties and electoral blocs which contested the election:

Party Lead candidate Main ideology Last election Government Vote % Seats PCRM Vladimir Voronin Communism 39.3% 42 PLDM Vlad Filat Liberal conservatism 29.4% 32 PDM Marian Lupu Social Democracy 12.7% 15 PL Mihai Ghimpu Conservative liberalism 10.0% 12 PSRM Zinaida Greceanîi Democratic socialismSocial conservatism colspan="2"

Campaign

A total of 41 parties registered at the Ministry of Justice by the 15 September deadline,Nr. 2664 - cu privire la lista partidelor şi altor organizaţii social-politice cu dreptul de a participa la alegerile parlamentare din 30 noiembrie 2014 CEC but the final ballot included 19 parties, one bloc, and four independent candidates.

The main dividing line between the parties was foreign policy, setting the pro-European Union (EU) parties (the Democratic Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and the Liberal Party) against those supporting rapprochement with the then incoming Eurasian Economic Union and the Russian Federation (PCRM and PSRM). The PSRM was the most radical by offering to cancel the agreement on political association and the free trade zone with the EU, and was openly supported by Russia. The leader of the party, Igor Dodon, publicly met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

Participating In total, the Central Electoral Commission registered 25 participants in the election (20 political parties, 1 electoral bloc, and 4 independent candidates):

No.Position on the ballot paper, as determined by the Central Electoral Commission. Parties are listed on the ballot paper in the order they register their candidate lists with the Commission. If more than one party registers candidates on the same day, the order is determined by the Commission following a draw Party or independent candidate's name Candidate list accepted by theCentral Electoral Commission on1 Democratic Party of Moldova 10 October 20142 Christian-Democratic People's Party 10 October 20143 Force of the People Party 10 October 20144 Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova 10 October 20145 Liberal Reformist Party 10 October 20146 Communist Reformist Party of Moldova 10 October 20147 Popular Movement Anti-Mafia Party 10 October 20148 National Liberal Party 10 October 20149 Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova 10 October 201410 'Moldova’s Choice — the Customs Union' Electoral Bloc 10 October 201411 Democracy at Home Party 10 October 201412 People's Party of Moldova 10 October 201413 Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova 10 October 201414 Liberal Party 10 October 201415 Revival Party 10 October 201416 Homeland Party 13 October 201417 Democratic Action Party 27 October 201418 Ecologist Green Party 28 October 201419 Equality Movement 29 October 201420 Oleg Cernei 29 October 201421 Oleg Brega 3 November 201422 'Patriots of Moldova' Party 3 November 201423 Valeriu Pleșca 6 November 201424 Anatolie Doga 7 November 201425 Centrist Union of Moldova 6 November 201426 For the Nation and Country Party 6 November 2014

Withdrawn The candidate list of the Republican Socio-Political Movement Equality was accepted by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) on 29 October 2014; however, the party later decided to withdraw from the election. On 22 November 2014, the CEC announced that it had accepted the withdrawal.

The Homeland Party was declared withdrawn from the election by the Chișinău Court of Appeal on 27 November 2014, for having used foreign financial resources during the campaign. Because ballot papers had already been printed, it was too late to remove the party's name (as was previously done for the Socio-political Movement 'Ravnopravie'). Instead, a stamp marked "withdrawn" was applied next to the party's name. The Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova rejected the party's appeal on 29 November 2014.

Opinion polls Party2010 electionsOpinion Polls Seats% Jan 2013 Apr 2013 Apr 2013 May 2013 Oct 2013 Nov 2013 Nov 2013 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 September 2014 PCRM 42 39.32 31.8 50.2 41.8 53.9 39.3 49.6 50.8 48.7 44.5 41.7 36.6 36.2 35.6 PLDM 32 29.42 26.5 19.5 24.7 17.4 16.9 19.7 19.1 28.3 26.5 19.2 23.9 26.1 28.3 PDM 15 12.7 11.9 10.5 13.9 11.9 10.2 13.2 12.7 12.8 14.6 10.2 13.8 14.5 16.2 PL 12 9.96 14.8 16.2 10.4 10.3 7.1 8.8 11.1 10.2 14.3 8.9 10.1 11.6 9.6 PSRM — — 1.5 0.9 4.7 2.0 4.9 0.9 0.6 — — 8.3 1.8 4.3 — PLR new — — — — — 2.6 2.5 1.6 — — 0.9 5.9 — — MPA new — — — — — — — 1.8 — — 2.8 — 2.9 — PPCD 0 0.53 — 0.3 — 0.9 — 1.3 — — — 1.2 — — — PSD 0 0.59 — 0.8 — 0.3 — — 1.2 — — — — — — PAD new — — — — 0.5 — — — — — — — — — PPM new — — — — — — — — — — 1.3 — — — PaRuS new — — — — — — — — — — — — — 10.2

Results

References