Hey everyone! As Moldova enters the “Day of Silence” where no more campaigning is allowed before the elections, I wanted to share a few final updates before Moldova goes to the polls. But first, a podcast recommendation!
Last night I joined Brian Whitmore’s legendary Power Vertical Podcast to discuss the Moldovan elections. The episode was aptly titled “The Battle for Moldova.” To break down the topic, Brian hosted a panel discussion with Laura Thornton, senior director for global democracy programs at the McCain Institute (and author of the their excellent pre-election analysis), Corina Rebegia, non-resident fellow with Accountability Lab, and myself. We had a wide ranging conversation about the current state of Russia’s “multi-vector war” against Moldova as well as the parties and players involved. We also dove into the changed field now that the official United States position is that the country has “no dog in this fight.”
If you’re interested, you can find the episode by searching for Power Vertical wherever you get your podcasts or by following this link.
Election Updates
Unfortunately, just because the campaign ended yesterday does not mean that major breaking stories are taking a day off. Here are some important last minute updates:
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has officially removed Irina Vlah’s Heart of Moldova Party from the elections. The situation where one party from a bloc is removed right before the elections is unprecedented and created major legal ambiguities. The CEC decided that the Patriotic Bloc would continue without one of its parties and have 24 hours to resubmit their party lists. Vlah’s party represented 25 of the 110 candidates on the list, but the main challenge was to assure gender representation in the new list. Moldova requires that at least 40% of candidates are women (or men) in every 10 places on the list1. Bottom line - the Patriotic Bloc will continue to elections without Vlah. The Patriotic Bloc called the exclusion an “an unprecedented blow to democracy and citizens’ right to free choice.”
The CEC voted to remove Victoria Furtuna’s Moldova Mare Party from the elections. The vote happened Friday after a complaint from the European Social Democratic Party (PSDE). The CEC cited the use of illicit campaign funds, use of foreign funding, electoral corruption, acting as a “camouflaged” Shor party, illicit support from Church figures, etc, etc. Futuna has been known as a Shor network operative since last year and multiple investigations released in the last few days have identified illegal Russian efforts to support her party.
Two individuals were detained in Serbia on suspicion of organizing paramilitary trainings for Moldovan and Romanian citizens. According to the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs the individuals helped facilitate the trainings of between 150 and 170 persons between July 16 and September 12. They state that the purpose of the trainings was to create mass unrest on the day of the parliamentary elections.
President Sandu called on citizens to vote with a final pre-election address. Here is the text in full:
Dear citizens,
Today I want to speak to you not as President, but as a citizen. As a citizen who, ten years ago, decided that he did not want to live in a country ruled by thieves. And, together with many of you, we set out to overthrow the oligarchic regime.
What followed were difficult years of fighting a corrupt, dangerous regime that mocked the people and the image of our country. It was harder than we imagined, but we didn’t give up even when there was no light at the end of the tunnel.
Together, with great effort, one day, we managed to oust the oligarch from power. But we didn’t stop there, because instead of some thieves, others rose up, godfathers with precedents and godfathers in Moscow. Four years ago, we managed to remove both of them from power.
The situation we inherited was not easy, nor was it very lucky, because all kinds of crises came upon us and – most seriously – a war broke out in our neighborhood. But we mobilized, we started reforms, we stopped the schemes, and we demonstrated to the whole world that Moldovans are good people, brave people, not thieves and traitors.
We got down to business and other countries saw us and helped us. We finally started the process of joining the European Union. Looking back, these ten years have been very intense. But I know that some of you will say that not enough has been done, that you are disappointed, that you have no more reason to vote, that you are scared or that you are tired of saving the country. Know that this is what the Kremlin counts on and this is what the corrupt people count on.
Good things take decades to do. Bad things can come upon us overnight. Our actions and inactions always have consequences – let us be aware of them and take responsibility for them.
Moldova is our home – it is always worth our time and attention. Moldova is worth saving every time. Go vote, for yourself and for Moldova.
Moldova, you are beautiful and courageous, move forward towards a better future in peace!
40% of candidates 1-10, 40% of candidates 11-20, etc.