Parliamentary elections will take place in Moldova on November 30. Some of the political parties have already started, officially or not, electoral actions, while some haven't. IPN Agency set out to sketch the “portraits” of political parties as recorded by society's perception, before the official start of the electoral campaign. We consider this to be a useful exercise for Moldovan voters, who will gain additional and concentrated information that they may find useful on the day of elections, and also for the parties themselves, who will get some hints on how to improve their image. This portrait might also help to better understand what one or another Moldovan party wants to be and what it really is. To this goal, many experts have been asked to comment on the parties' chance to make it into the next Parliament, the way they fulfilled their previous electoral promises, the possible coalitions, topics, tactics and strategies they might employ to get the voters' attention. Political parties are presented in order of the number of seats they hold in the current Legislative and of the results obtained during the previous parliamentary elections in 2010.
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The People's Party of Moldova has a good image, but is less-known among voters. It is one of the parties that aren't likely to make it into the Parliament in the elections on November 30 because it has been very passive.
Political analyst Olga Nicolenco thinks PPRM has a good image especially in rural areas, but can accede to the Parliament only in an electoral bloc or on the lists of other party. Its strengths are strong territorial organizations and loyal and organized members. On the other hand, modest visibility in the mass media and on social networks are weak spots. The analyst expects PPRM to focus its electoral message on life in rural areas, agriculture and social aspects.
Denis Cenusa, political expert, says PPRM is one the small parties not yet seen as major political players. They have no chance in the elections because the voters see them as such.
Victor Juc, of the Institute for Legal and Political Research of the Moldovan Academy of Sciences, is of the opinion that PPRM leader Alexandru Oleinic is trying to make some moves to get out of anonymity, because he is well-known as a person, but the party isn't. “I think that on his own Alexandru Oleinic won't manage to attract many voters. It isn't clear what this party wants, what ideas it promotes. I don't think it will get many votes”, said Juc.
Expert Lina Grau thinks the People Party's of Moldova is one of the parties with no chances to gain MP seats. “I regret that extra-parliamentary parties aren't active outside of elections, especially as this party positions itself as a defender of farmers. I haven't seen it taking attitude, reacting. The role of these parties is to generate policies, to criticize the government constructively and come up with solutions”, said Grau.
The electoral campaign is seen by such parties as a chance for PR. “It's a good occasion to promote the party with less money, and then use the party's image for businesses, to promote the interests of some of the party members”, opined Grau. She added that normally, extra-parliamentary opposition must be very active, but in Moldova it still seems just a game.
Lina Grau anticipates that no new parties would accede to the Parliament after the elections on November 30 and the challenge will be to create coalitions between the current parties.
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As part of this campaign, IPN has already published a review of the experts' opinions on the Communists' Party, the Liberal-Democratic Party, the Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Liberal Reformists Party, the Renaissance Party, the Socialists' Party, the Democratic Action Party, the National Liberal Party and the Antimafia People's Movement.
Mariana Galben, IPN
