Pre-Crisis Phase (August 27, 1991-April 5, 2009): Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August 27, 1991. Mircea Snegur was elected president with some 98 percent of the vote on December 8, 1991. Prime Minister Valeriy Muravskiy resigned on June 9, 1992, and Andrei Sangheli formed a government as prime minister on July 1, 1992. Parliamentary elections were held on February 27, 1994, and the Democratic Agrarian Party of Moldova (Partidul Democrat Agrar din Moldova – PDAM) won 56 out of 104 seats in the parliament. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) established an election observation mission to monitor the parliamentary elections. The Council of Europe (COE) Parliamentary Assembly sent observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. Some 95 percent of Moldovans voted for independence from Russia and Romania in a referendum on March 6, 1994. The Moldovan parliament approved a new constitution on July 28, 1994, and the constitution went into effect on August 27, 1994. Local referendum and elections were held on March 5 and April 16, 1995. The OSCE/ODIHR established an election observation mission to monitor the local referendum and elections. Petru Lucinschi of the PDAM was elected president with some 54 percent of the vote in the runoff election on December 1, 1996. The OSCE/ODIHR established an election observation mission consisting of seven long-term observers and 81 short-term observers from 21 countries headed by Kare Vollan of Norway to monitor the presidential elections beginning on October 17, 1996. On December 17, 1996, the OSCE/ODIHR mission reported that the elections were free and fair. Ion Ciubuc formed a government as prime minister on January 24, 1997. Parliamentary elections were held on March 22, 1998, and the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (Partidul Comuniștilor din Republica Moldova – PCRM) won 40 out of 101 seats in the parliament. The Democratic Convention of Moldova (Convenţia Democrată din Moldova – CDM) won 26 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 14 long-term observers and 140 short-term observers from 30 countries headed by Markus Aaltonen of Finland and Kare Vollan of Norway to monitor the parliamentary elections from January 14 to March 23, 1998. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent four observers headed by Dumeni Columberg of Switzerland to monitor the parliamentary elections beginning on March 19, 1998. On April 20, 1998, the COE mission reported that the elections “took place in a satisfactory way.” Prime Minister Ion Ciubic resigned on February 1, 1999, and Ion Sturza formed a government as prime minister on March 12, 1999. The government of Prime Minister Sturza collapsed after a vote of no-confidence in the Moldovan parliament on November 9, 1999, and Dumitru Braghis formed a government as prime minister on December 21, 1999. Parliamentary elections were held on February 25, 2001, and the PCRM won 71 out of 101 seats in the parliament. The Christian-Democratic People’s Party (Partidul Popular Creștin Democrat – PPCD) won 11 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent some 100 observers headed by Charles Magee of the U.S. to monitor the parliamentary elections from January 26 to February 26, 2001. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent nine observers from seven countries headed by Bjorn von der Esch of Sweden to monitor the parliamentary elections on February 23-26, 2001. The parliament elected Vladimir Voronin of the PCRM as president on April 4, 2001. The PPCD headed by Iurie Rosca organized demonstrations against the government’s “Re-Russification of Moldova” policy beginning on January 9, 2002. The government suspended the PPCD for one month on January 22, 2002. The government stripped the PPCD leadership of their parliamentary immunity on January 25, 2002. The government revoked the suspension of the PPCD on February 8, 2002. The PPCD organized demonstrations against the government in Chișinău on February 13-18, 2002. Vlad Cubreacov, vice-president of the PPCD, was abducted near his home in Chișinău on March 21, 2002. Some 50,000 individuals demonstrated against the government in Chișinău beginning on March 31, 2002. Local elections were held on May 25 and June 8, 2003. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 115 observers to monitor the local elections from April 25 to June 9, 2003. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA) of the COE sent observers to monitor the local elections. Parliamentary elections were held on March 6, 2005, and the PCRM won 56 out of 101 seats in the parliament. The Democratic Moldova Electoral Bloc (Blocul Electoral Moldova Democrată – BEMD) won 34 seats in the parliament. The OSCE sent 12 election experts, 16 long-term observers, and 150 short-term observers led by Ambassador Istvan Gyarmati of Hungary from January 27 to March 7, 2005. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 38 observers headed by Andre Kvakkestad of Norway to monitor the parliamentary elections on March 2-7, 2005. The European Parliament (EP) sent fourteen observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. On April 8, 2005, President Vladimir Voronin nominated Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev to for a new government, and the new government was approved by the parliament on April 19, 2005. Parliamentary elections were held on April 5, 2009, and the PCRM won 60 out of 101 seats in the parliament. The OSCE sent 13 election experts, 24 long-term observers, and 200 short-term observers led by Nikolai Vulchanov of Bulgaria to monitor the parliamentary elections from February 24 to April 6, 2009. The European Parliament (EP) sent six short-term observers led by Marianne Mikko of Estonia to monitor the parliamentary elections from April 3 to April 7, 2009. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) sent short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections,
Crisis Phase (April 6, 2009-March 16, 2012): Protests against the results of the parliamentary elections took place in Chișinău and other locations on April 6-12, 2009. Rioters attacked the parliament building and presidential office in Chișinău on April 7, 2009. Government police arrested 600 protesters, and three protesters were killed as a result of the violence. The U.S. and Romanian governments called for an end to the violence in Moldova. The parliament attempted, but failed, to elect a president on May 20, 2009 and June 3, 2009. President Vladimir Voronin dissolved the parliament on June 15, 2009, and he called for new parliamentary elections. Parliamentary elections were held on July 29, 2009, and the PCRM won 48 out of 101 seats in the parliament. The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (Partidul Liberal Democrat din Moldova – PLDM) won 18 seats in the parliament. The OSCE sent 13 election experts, 20 long-term observers, and 200 short-term observers led Ambassador Boris Frlec of Slovenia to monitor the parliamentary elections from June 26 to July 30, 2009. The European Parliament (EP) sent seven short-term observers led by Marian-Jean Marinescu of Romania to monitor the parliamentary elections. The parliament approved a coalition government headed by Vladimir Filat of the PLDM on September 25, 2009. The parliament attempted, but failed, to elect a president on November 10, 2009 and December 7, 2009. The PCRM members of parliament boycotted the votes. A referendum on an amendment to the Moldovan constitutional to directly elect the president was held on September 5, 2010. The amendment failed to be adopted since less than 33 percent of the voters participated in the referendum. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 20 short-term observers to monitor the referendum on September 3-6, 2010. Acting President Mihai Ghimpu dissolved the parliament on September 28, 2010, and he called for new parliamentary elections. Parliamentary elections were held on November 28, 2010, and the PCRM won 42 out of 101 seats in the parliament. The PLDM won 32 seats in the parliament. The OSCE sent 12 election experts, 20 long-term observers, and 200 short-term observers led by Peter Eicher of the U.S. to monitor the parliamentary elections from October 25 to November 29, 2010. The European Parliament (EP) sent four short-term observers led by Monica Macovei of Romania to monitor the parliamentary elections on November 26-29, 2010. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) sent 70 short-term observers from five countries to monitor the parliamentary elections. The parliament attempted, but failed, to elect a president on December 16, 2011 and January 15, 2012. The parliament elected Nicolae Tomifti as president on March 16, 2012. The PCRM members of parliament boycotted the vote.
Post-Crisis Phase (March 17, 2012-present): Pro-Europe demonstrations organized by the PLDM-led governing coalition took place in Chișinău on November 3, 2013. Parliamentary elections were held on November 30, 2014, and the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (Partidul Socialiștilor din Republica Moldova – PSRM) won 26 out of 101 seats in the parliament. The PLDM won 23 seats in the parliament. The OSCE sent 13 election experts, 22 long-term observers, and 200 short-term observers led by Ambassador Jan Petersen of Norway to monitor the parliamentary elections from October 24 to December 10, 2014. The European Parliament (EP) sent six short-term observers led by Igor Šoltes of Slovenia to monitor the parliamentary elections from November 27 to December 2, 2014. The CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA) sent 33 short-term observers from seven countries to monitor the parliamentary elections. Igor Dodon of the PSRM was elected president with 52 percent of the vote in the second round on November 13, 2016. The OSCE sent 11 election experts, 20 long-term observers, and 200 short-term observers to monitor the presidential elections from October 3 to November 25, 2016. The CIS sent 69 short-term observers to monitor the first round of presidential elections on November 1, 2016. Igor Dodon was sworn in as president in Chișinău on December 23, 2016. Parliamentary elections were held February 24, 2019, and the PSRM won 35 out of 101 seats in the parliament. The European Social Democratic Party (Partidul Social Democrat European – PSDE) won 30 seats in the parliament. The OSCE sent 11 election experts, 28 long-term observers, and 200 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections from January 16 to March 6, 2019. The European Parliament (EP) sent five short-term observers led by Rebecca Harms of Germany to monitor the parliamentary elections. The CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA) sent 35 short-term observers from seven countries led by Bektas Beknazarov of Kazakhstan to monitor the parliamentary elections. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent eight election experts and ten long-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. Maia Sandu of the Party of Action and Solidarity (Partidul Acțiune și Solidaritate – PAS) was elected president with 58 percent of the vote in the second round on November 15, 2020. The OSCE sent 10 election experts and 24 long-term observers to monitor the first round of presidential elections from September 23 to November 11, 2019. The CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA) sent 45 short-term observers to monitor the second round of presidential elections. The ENEMO sent eight election experts, eight long-term observers, and 26 short-term observers to monitor the presidential elections. Maia Sandu was sworn in as president in Chișinău on December 24, 2020. President Maia Sandu dissolved the parliament on April 28, 2021. Parliamentary elections were held on July 11, 2021, and the PAS won 63 out of 101 seats in the parliament. The Bloc of Communists and Socialists (Blocul Comuniștilor și Socialiștilor – BCS) won 32 seats in the parliament. The OSCE sent 11 election experts, 28 long-term observers, and 200 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections from June 3 to July 21, 2021. The CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA) sent short-term observers led by Iskender Matraimov of Kyrgyzstan to monitor the parliamentary elections. On August 6, 2021, the parliament approved the new government led by Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita. On October 22, 2021, the parliament approved a one-month state of emergency for the government to deal with natural gas shortages and rising energy prices. On January 20, 2022, the parliament approved a 60-day state of emergency in the energy sector to deal with the energy crisis.
Crisis Phase (February 24, 2022-December 31, 2023): In response to the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine, the Moldovan parliament approved a 60-day, nationwide state of emergency requested by President Maia Sandu on February 24, 2022. The U.S. government provided more than $300 million in economic assistance to the Moldovan government in 2022 and 2023. The European Parliament (EP) approved 150 million euros in economic assistance to the Moldovan government in March 2022. On March 3, 2022, President Maia Sandu signed a formal application for Moldova to join the European Union (EU). On May 26, 2022, former president and pro-Russian opposition leader Igor Dodon was ordered to be placed under house arrest by a Moldovan court after being detained by police two days earlier on allegations of corruption. On June 23, 2022, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced that it would provide a loan of 300 million euros ($316 million) to the Moldovan government to deal with energy supply disruptions. On July 28, 2022 the parliament extended the state of emergency for another 60 days. Anti-government protests organized by the pro-Russian Shor party led by exiled led by Ilan Shor took place in Chișinău beginning on September 18, 2022. On November 10, 2022, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a 250 million euros ($250 million) financial package, including loans and grants, to assist the Moldovan government in dealing with the energy crisis in the country. On November 18, 2022, former president and pro-Russian opposition leader Igor Dodon was released from house arrest pending trial for corruption. Prime Minister’s Natalia Gavrilita resigned on February 10, 2023, and the parliament approved a new government led by Prime Minister Dorin Recean on February 16, 2023. On February 19, 2023, several thousand individuals, including supporters of the pro-Russian Shor party, protested in Chișinău against the pro-Western government of President Maia Sandu. On May 21, 2023, thousands of individuals demonstrated in support of EU membership in Chișinău. The Moldovan Constitutional Court banned the pro-Russian Shor party on June 19, 2023. The European Commission (EC) provided 72.5 million euros in economic assistance, including a 50 million euro loan and a 22.5 million euros grant, to the Moldovan government in October 2023. Local elections were held on November 5, 2023. The OSCE sent 11 election experts, 28 long-term observers, and 200 short-term observers to monitor the local elections from September 26 to November 15, 2023. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA) of the COE sent 19 short-term observers led by Gunn Marit Helgesen of Norway to monitor the local elections on November 3-6, 2023. On November 24, 2023, the parliament extended the state of emergency through the end of the year. The state of emergency ended on December 31, 2023.
Post-Crisis Phase (January 1, 2024-present):
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