Laima Andrikienė: Moldovan citizens sent a clear message at the parliamentary elections: we want stability and more Europe
Press release, 12 July 2021
Laima Andrikienė, Member of the Seimas and Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), who observed the parliamentary elections in Moldova yesterday, characterised the elections as democratic and in line with international standards. Twenty political parties, two party blocs/coalitions and one independent candidate were registered for the early parliamentary elections. The Moldovan Parliament is elected for a four-year term and has 101 members.
‘The election turnout was reported at 48.4 % and the Action and Solidarity Party won the elections with 52.8% of votes. The founder and former leader of the wining party is Maia Sandu, President of Moldova, elected last year. The percentage of votes cast for this political force in the parliamentary elections has left no doubt as to the expectations of the majority of the Moldovan citizens. They want a stable parliamentary majority, which will enable the President and the post-election government to lead the country on its path of European integration and implement the long-awaited reforms, including primarily the fight against corruption, independence of the judiciary, and health system reform,’ Ms Andrikienė said.
Ms Andrikienė, who observed the elections as part of the PACE delegation, also noted that ‘the Electoral Bloc of Communists and Socialists, led by two former Presidents: Communist leader Vladimir Voronin and Socialist leader Igor Dodon, suffered a stunning defeat. Their Bloc got 27.17% of votes, which is half the number of the votes obtained by the centre-right Action and Solidarity Party. These two political forces, namely, the pro-EU membership centre-right Action and Solidarity Party and the apparent left-wing pro-Russian Electoral Block of Communists and Socialists, will share all the parliamentary seats, except for a few seats won by the Șor Party, led by Ilan Șor, a businessman wanted by the Moldovan law enforcement, which appears to have crossed the 5% electoral threshold.
‘I hope that the expectations of the Moldovan people will be met. They have long deserved it. Moldovan President Maia Sandu, seemingly fragile like a porcelain doll, has proven to be an excellent strategist. She won convincingly the presidential elections in 2020 against very challenging circumstances and today following the parliamentary elections, the political party that supports her is celebrating a decisive victory. Undoubtedly, it is in Lithuania’s interests to see a democratic Moldova that is based on the rule of law, free from painful problems of the past and Russia’s influence, and that is performing consistently and decisively towards achieving full membership of the European Union. Our mission in Lithuania is to help Moldova and its democratically elected representatives to overcome the obstacles in the way of EU membership,’ Ms Andrikienė said.
Aldona Drėgvaitė, Assistant to Dr.Laima Andrikienė, Member of the Seimas, e-mail: [email protected]
Jolanta Anskaitienė