14 C
Vienna
Sunday, October 13, 2024

Moldova: waiting for a new president and European integration

Two months before the presidential election, the election campaign has officially started in Moldova. On 20 October, Moldovan citizens will not only learn the name of the new head of state, but will also decide in a referendum whether Chisinau needs integration into the European Union. Many politicians have already officially announced that they will participate in the elections. The incumbent president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, is no exception, but the former head of state, Igor Dodon, said that he would not run. 

According to Moldovan legislation, from 21 to 31 August, the CEC accepts documents for registration of initiative groups in support of candidates and only then does registration begin. There are not very many requirements for candidates. Anyone who: has electoral rights; has reached the age of 40; has lived on the territory of the republic for more than 10 years; speaks the state language (on 17 March 2023, the parliament approved the law on renaming the state language from Moldovan to Romanian, and a few days later President Maia Sandu signed the document). On this parameter, the CEC had already refused to register the initiative group of Liudmila Corsun, who wanted to run as an independent candidate. At the CEC session, Liudmila Korsun said that she was learning Romanian and that by 20 September she would know the language “at a higher level”. However, she was unable to answer questions in Romanian.

Candidates may be nominated by a political party, an electoral alliance or run as independents. They must collect at least 15,000 signatures in their favour. A politician is considered the winner of the presidential race if he or she wins an absolute majority of votes with a turnout of at least 33 per cent. If none of the candidates could overcome the 50%+1 threshold, the two best candidates will meet in a second round in a fortnight.

As of today, the “club of candidates” is expanding every day. Seventeen people have already announced their claims for the presidential seat. And, despite the fact that, according to all sociological surveys, no one really “threatens” Maia Sandu, any election carries a certain intrigue. Let’s try to understand the intrigues of the upcoming presidential race and get acquainted with those who have already announced their presidential ambitions.

Ascolta analyses the internal political situation in Moldova on the eve of the presidential elections, as well as the risks and prospects of changing the current course of local authorities. In the context of increasing confrontation between the authorities and the opposition, attention is also drawn to the external factor, which has a serious impact on public sentiment and the possible outcome of the elections. 

This Content Is Only For Subscribers

Please subscribe to unlock this content. Enter your email to get access.
Your email address is 100% safe from spam!

Two months before the presidential election, the election campaign has officially started in Moldova. On 20 October, Moldovan citizens will not only learn the name of the new head of state, but will also decide in a referendum whether Chisinau needs integration into the European Union. Many politicians have already officially announced that they will participate in the elections. The incumbent president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, is no exception, but the former head of state, Igor Dodon, said that he would not run. 

According to Moldovan legislation, from 21 to 31 August, the CEC accepts documents for registration of initiative groups in support of candidates and only then does registration begin. There are not very many requirements for candidates. Anyone who: has electoral rights; has reached the age of 40; has lived on the territory of the republic for more than 10 years; speaks the state language (on 17 March 2023, the parliament approved the law on renaming the state language from Moldovan to Romanian, and a few days later President Maia Sandu signed the document). On this parameter, the CEC had already refused to register the initiative group of Liudmila Corsun, who wanted to run as an independent candidate. At the CEC session, Liudmila Korsun said that she was learning Romanian and that by 20 September she would know the language “at a higher level”. However, she was unable to answer questions in Romanian.

Candidates may be nominated by a political party, an electoral alliance or run as independents. They must collect at least 15,000 signatures in their favour. A politician is considered the winner of the presidential race if he or she wins an absolute majority of votes with a turnout of at least 33 per cent. If none of the candidates could overcome the 50%+1 threshold, the two best candidates will meet in a second round in a fortnight.

As of today, the “club of candidates” is expanding every day. Seventeen people have already announced their claims for the presidential seat. And, despite the fact that, according to all sociological surveys, no one really “threatens” Maia Sandu, any election carries a certain intrigue. Let’s try to understand the intrigues of the upcoming presidential race and get acquainted with those who have already announced their presidential ambitions.

Ascolta analyses the internal political situation in Moldova on the eve of the presidential elections, as well as the risks and prospects of changing the current course of local authorities. In the context of increasing confrontation between the authorities and the opposition, attention is also drawn to the external factor, which has a serious impact on public sentiment and the possible outcome of the elections. 

This Content Is Only For Subscribers

Please subscribe to unlock this content. Enter your email to get access.
Your email address is 100% safe from spam!

More articles

Latest article