Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova


The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova is a pro-Russian, democratic socialist, nationalist, social-conservative, and populist political party in Moldova. Between 2005 and 2011 it was known as the Party of Socialists of Moldova "Motherland". The party has now largely succeeded the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova 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.

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. 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 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. Subsequently a Socialist Group, which included Dodon, Veronica Abramciuc and Zinaida Greceanîi, was set up in the Parliament.
The party won the 2014 general election with over 20% of the vote. 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.
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. Party members support nostalgia for the Soviet Union and belief in the existence of a "Moldovan language and Moldovan ethnicity".
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.
The party strongly opposes LGBT rights in Moldova. Despite officially associating itself with the left wing movement, 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." The party has links to right-wing populist political parties across Europe, including the Europe of Nations and Freedom parliamentary group.

Party leaders

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.

Parliament

Local choices

District and Municipal Councils

Mayors