Lead-Up to Moldova’s 2019 Elections

Moldova's capital, Chisinau, has been covered in posters and placards over the last month as the country prepares for its 2019 parliamentary elections on February 24.

Critics of the government claim the election campaign has been marred by abuse of state resources, dirty tricks and the long arm of Russia, with the pro-Moscow Socialist party in Moldova, close to President Igor Dodon, promising that it will revitalise exports to Russia.

The official campaign, which began on January 25, kicked off with acts of physical violence, smears and other apparent wrongdoing.

A candidate for the opposition bloc ACUM, Dinu Plingau, claimed he was beaten in the northern city of Edinet, while opposition candidate Valeriu Munteanu alleged she was shoved on the streets of the central city of Orhei by supporters of his main opponent Ilan Shor.

Under Moldova's new "mixed" electoral system, half the winning candidates for the 101 seats will come from party lists and half will be elected in 51 constituencies across the country and abroad.

People wait at a bus stop covered with electoral posters in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, on February 12. Photo: EPA-EFE/Dumitru Doru
A woman passes a panel with electoral posters in downtown Chisinau on February 13. Photo: EPA-EFE/Dumitru Doru
A woman passes a panel with electoral posters in downtown Chisinau on February 13. Photo: EPA-EFE/Dumitru Doru
Supporters of electoral block ACUM protest in front of Central Electoral Commission in Chisinau on February 14. The placard on the right reads: "forbidden vote = defrauded elections". Photo: EPA-EFE/STRINGER
At a briefing with their supporters on February 18, the leader of Dignity and Truth Platform, Andrei Nastase (L), and Party of Action and Solidarity...