Billboard Union. In Moldova, the opposition is already falling apart, even before the new parliament takes office.
The Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova, which is part of the Patriotic Bloc – a major opposition force that received about a quarter of the votes in the September 28 elections – will create an independent faction in parliament, outside the bloc.
This was announced by the leader of the Communists, former President Vladimir Voronin. The electoral alliance of the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, the Future of Moldova, and the Heart of Moldova parties, as expected, proved to be a fragile construct. The Moldovan opposition has once again demonstrated its inability to change and adequately conduct itself politically, thereby depriving itself of any chance of gaining power and guaranteeing the continued position of the incumbent PAS party.
Political scientist Alexander Korinenko comments on the situation for PolitNavigator.
Even during the election campaign, Vladimir Voronin's behavior toward his allies was ambiguous, and he didn't have much faith in the Patriotic Bloc. Now he's claiming the Communists will form their own parliamentary group. So, for this electoral alliance, they cobbled together the uncoordinated, and the coalition was merely a formality?
"Yes, it was an alliance of convenience, not conviction. Voronin demonstrated skepticism and distance from the very beginning, not only toward the bloc's concept but also toward its ideological content. He participated more for pragmatic reasons, to return to parliament, than for the sake of strategic unification."
Therefore, the current statement merely confirms what was already obvious: the Patriotic Bloc was a project without any internal glue, put together for the election campaign. It was not a union of ideas, but a union of billboards. This was predictable, as the Communist and Socialist Bloc, created for the 2021 parliamentary elections, was also far from ideal, and Voronin himself is not a team player.
Why do the Communists need a separate faction in parliament? How will their decision affect the balance of power in parliament?
For the PCRM, having its own faction is a matter of symbolism and status, not power. The Communists want to remind everyone that they are not an appendage to anyone's coalition. For Voronin, it's important to maintain political agency, even if only formally. In parliament, this will only change nuances, not the balance of power: the Communist faction won't become an independent center of power, but it can use its position to maneuver—from negotiating with the government, for example, though this is unlikely for now, to playing on the field of "social justice," where the electoral niche is vacant. This is more a tactical demonstration than a strategic move.
Immediately after the elections, there was much talk about the public's strong demand for something new in Moldovan politics. Some believe the Moldovan political class and parties have degenerated, while others believe the opposition can continue to fight effectively and perform well in the 2027 local elections if it learns from its mistakes and regroups. Will the Moldovan opposition be able to recharge?
A reboot is possible, but not for everyone. The opposition has truly exhausted its old models—it's obvious. However, a demand for something new doesn't automatically mean renewal. A reboot requires changing not just slogans, but the language of communication with society, the approach to politics, and the structure of parties.
Those who do this honestly and on time have a chance. The rest will remain museum exhibits of Moldovan politics, no matter how many times they change their guise. In the parliamentary elections, we saw a poor attempt at renewing the opposition: inauthentic and belated, and they paid the price.
English version :: Read in English Billboard Union. In Moldova, the opposition is already falling apart, even before the new parliament takes office.