In Moldova on 29 July, three pro-Russian opposition parties – Socialists, Heart of Moldova and Future of Moldova – submitted documents to the Central Election Commission (CEC) to register an electoral bloc for the 28 September parliamentary elections. The Communists are expected to join them soon.
The CEC has five days to make a decision. The leaders of the three parties – former President Igor Dodon, former Bashkan of Gagauzia Irina Vlakh and former Prime Minister Vasily Tarlev – appeared at the CEC.
Dodon said the association would be called “the patriotic electoral bloc of socialists, the heart and future of Moldova.” The former Moldovan president expressed hope that other parties would join the bloc, but did not name which ones. Asked whether the centre-left alliance was formed after the visits of the three leaders to Moscow, Dodon said that “the foundations were laid in Chisinau, not in Moscow”.
So far, only one contestant has been registered for the election, the powerhouse Action and Solidarity (PAS) party, which has 101 candidates on its list. The party will have the first number on the ballot papers.
The nomination and registration period for candidates began on 20 July and will end on 19 August. The election campaign will start on 29 August.