Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova

The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (Romanian: Partidul Socialiștilor din Republica Moldova, PSRM; Russian: Партия социалистов Республики Молдова, Partija socialistov Respubliki Moldova) is a pro-Russian, democratic socialist,[1][2] nationalist, social-conservative, and populist political party in Moldova. Between 2005 and 2011 it was known as the Party of Socialists of Moldova "Motherland" (Partidul Socialiștilor din Moldova «Patria-Rodina», PSMPR). The party has now largely succeeded the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) in terms of election results and opinion polling, winning 20.5% against 17.5% in the 2014 Moldovan parliamentary election and polling at around 50% against PCRM's 3% as of November 2017.[4]

Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova Partidul Socialiștilor din Republica Moldova Партия социалистов Республики Молдова
President	Zinaida Greceanîi
Parliamentary group leader	Zinaida Greceanîi
Founded	29 June 1997
Split from	Socialist Party of Moldova
Headquarters	Chișinău
Ideology	Democratic socialism[1][2] Left-wing nationalism Moldovenism Left-wing populism Euroscepticism[1] Russophilia Russian minority politics Social conservatism[3]
Political position	Left-wing
European affiliation	none
International affiliation	none
Colours	Red
Parliament	36 / 101
District Presidents	2 / 32
Website
socialistii.md
Politics of Moldova Political parties Elections

History

The PSRM was founded in 1997 by members of the Socialist Party of Moldova. The Founding Congress took place on 29 June 1997 in Chișinău. Veronica Abramciuc and Eduard Smirnov were elected as co-chairmen of the new party.[5] The party obtained 0,59% of votes in 1998 election, failing to elect any representative.

In 2001 election the party formed the electoral bloc "Unity", together with the Republican Party of Moldova: the bloc obtained 0,46% of votes, failing to elect any representative. In 2006 elections the party formed the electoral bloc "Motherland", together with the Socialist Party of Moldova: the bloc obtained 4,9% of votes and did not elect any representatives.

The party did not participate in 2009 and 2010 elections, endorsing the Party of Communists of Moldova (PCRM) instead; party chairman Veronica Abramciuc was included in PCRM list and elected to the Parliament.

In 2011, Igor Dodon, former member of the PCRM, joined the party, and was elected as its chairman on 18 December 2011.[6] Subsequently a Socialist Group, which included Dodon, Veronica Abramciuc and Zinaida Greceanîi, was set up in the Parliament.[7]

The party won the 2014 general election with over 20% of the vote.[1] The party remained in opposition, as two pro-EU center-right parties managed to form a minority cabinet with the external support of the PCRM.[8]

In the Moldovan presidential elections of 2016 party leader Igor Dodon was elected as new President of Moldova. Following the election, Dodon stepped down as party chairman and was replaced by Zinaida Greceanîi.

Political positions

The party has an anti-NATO, anti-European Union, anti-Romanian, and pro-Russian stance.[9][10] Party members support nostalgia for the Soviet Union and belief in the existence of a "Moldovan language and Moldovan ethnicity".[10]

Although the party is anti-Romanian, several party members have Romanian citizenship, for example members of Parliament Alla Dolinţă, Anatolie Labuneţ, Adrian Lebedinschi, Corneliu Furculiţa, Ghenadi Mitriuc, Radu Mudreac.[11]

The party strongly opposes LGBT rights in Moldova. Despite officially associating itself with left-wing, the party works with nationalist, right wing and religious movements to counter the "promotion of vice spread with the help of the US in Moldova."[12] The party has links to right-wing populist political parties across Europe, including the Europe of Nations and Freedom parliamentary group.[13]

Party leaders

• Eduard Smirnov with Veronica Abramciuc (co-chairmen, 1997-2005)
• Veronica Abramciuc (2005–2011)
• Igor Dodon (2011–2016)
• Zinaida Greceanîi (2016–present)

Electoral results

The PSRM participated in the Moldovan parliamentary elections in 1998 and 2001 without success. In the 2005 legislative elections, the party contested as part of the Electoral Bloc Motherland and received 4.97% votes, which was not sufficient to enter parliament as it did not pass the electoral threshold of 6.0%. At the 2009 legislative elections in April and July and at the 2010 legislative election, it supported the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova. Its leader Veronica Abramciuc was included in the PCRM candidates list.[14]

Parliament

Election year	# of total votes	% of overall vote	# of seats	+/–	Government
1998	9,514	0.59	0 / 101		Extra-parliamentary
2001	7,277[lower-alpha 1]	0.46[lower-alpha 1]	0 / 101		Extra-parliamentary
2005	77,490[lower-alpha 2]	4.97[lower-alpha 2]	0 / 101		Extra-parliamentary
2009 (April)	Did not participate
2009 (July)
2010
2014	327,910	20.51	25 / 101	25	Opposition
2019	441,236	31.15	35 / 101	10	Government coalition

1. Result of the electoral alliance "Unity".
2. Result of the electoral alliance "Motherland".

Local choices

District and Municipal Councils

Year of elections	# Votes	% of votes	# Seats
2019	291.257	27.08	326 / 1,116

Mayors

Year of elections	Mayors	% of votes	# Seats
2019[15]	206	22,9	206 / 898

References

1. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Moldova". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
2. "Programul PSRM" (in Romanian).
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2016-05-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "DOC / Rezultatele sondajului socio-politic FOP. Dacă duminică ar avea loc alegeri: PSRM - 50,3%, PAS -25,9%, PDM - 6,2%, PPDA - 4,1 și PCRM 3,7%" (in Romanian). Ziarul Timpul și Fondul Opiniei Publice. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
5. "Partidul Socialiştilor din Republica Moldova (PSRM) / partide.md". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
6. Infoprut.ro
7. ""Ãðóïïà Äîäîíà" ñîçäàëà â ïàðëàìåíòå Ìîëäàâèè ôðàêöèþ ñîöèàëèñòîâ". ÈÀ REGNUM. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
8. Timuş, Natalia (23 March 2015). "A democratic and European stern test for Moldovan political elite". Party Systems and Governments Observatory. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
9. Socor, Vladimir. "Russia's New Moldovan Favorite: Igor Dodon's Socialist Party". Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume. Archived from the original on 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
10. "PSRM: "Patria noastră este Moldova. Limba noastră este moldovenească "". Timpul.md. Archived from the original on 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
11. "DOC: Deputaţii PSRM cu paşaport românesc, care acum jumătate de an spuneau că au depus cereri să li se retragă cetăţenia română, au MINŢIT". Jurnal.md. Archived from the original on 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
12. Vlas, Cristi (22 May 2016). "LGBT solidarity march in Moldova stopped due to fear of clashes with orthodox counter protesters". Moldova.org. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
13. ENF Group invited to the new Moldovan president's investiture
14. "Election News from February 11, 2009 / Elections 2009". Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
15. "alegeri.md - Alegeri în Republica Moldova", Alegeri.md/w/pagina_principal%c4%83, retrieved October 29, 2019

External links

• Official website (in Romanian and Russian)
• www.e-democracy.md