“Stable Moldova Important for Europe”

With over 45 percent of the votes in Parliament, the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova has cleary renewed its position as the country’s strongest party. The communists, who have governed in Moldova since 2001, continue to enjoy the confidence of a large part of their country’s people.

Any attempt to form a government while still bypassing the party which represents such a large proportion of the population poses the risk of Moldova becoming even more polarized and of it losing its stability. This is even more true now that the former opposition posseses enough of a majority to form a government, but not enough to elect a president. If such rigid  poltical positioning, which began with the obstinate responses of the opposition shortly after the elections in April, continues, the country faces the threat of further paralysis.

Last but not least, through their membership in European Left, the Communists in Moldova clearly positioned themselves on the side of a united Europe. At the same time, they are attempting to maintain good relations with Russia because of their shared history. We need a European Union that sets itself with its neighbors, not against them. Moldova can play a key part in the EU's relations with Russia and in understanding the special situations and difficulties in the former Soviet Republic. If its population wishes it, Moldova should also be able to do this as a member of the European Union.