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 ElectionsParliamentary2005

General Information on the 2005 Parliamentary Elections

Date of electionsMarch 6, 2005
Type of electionsParliamentary Elections
Electoral threshold for
political parties6%
electoral blocks of 2 parties9%
electoral blocks of 3 parties12%
independent candidates3%
Voter turnout to validate election »»»
1/2
Number of electoral contestants
political parties9
electoral blocks2
independent candidates12
Voter turnout »»»
64.84%
Seats distribution
PCRM56
BMD34
PPCD11

The March 6, 2005 parliamentary elections were the 4th electoral competition of this kind after proclamation of independence of the Republic of Moldova.

As many as 1,970 polling stations divided into 37 electoral constituencies of second level were opened inside and outside Moldova for scrutiny. Nine out of the total number of polling stations were opened for Moldovan citizens who reside the Transnistrian region, settlements under jurisdiction of the Chisinau authorities, while another 23 polling stations worked in diplomatic missions and consular offices of Moldova abroad.

Taking part in the parliamentary scrutiny were 23 electoral contestants, including two electoral blocs, nine parties or social-political movements, and 12 independent candidates. To cross the electoral threshold, parties needed six percent of votes, blocs of two parties — nine percent, and blocs of more than two parties — 12 percent, and these thresholds were introduced at the 2005 parliamentary elections for the first time in Moldova’s election history, after amendment of the Election Code in 2002. Like at the 2001 parliamentary elections, a three-percent threshold was in effect for independent candidates.

As much as 64.84 percent of voters included in electoral lists attended the scrutiny. The highest voter turnout was registered in the district of Basarabeasca, while the lowest voter turnout was recorded in the Chisinau municipality.

Only the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), the Moldova Democrata Bloc (BMD), made up by the Our Moldova Alliance, the Democratic Party of Moldova, Social Liberal Party, and the Christian Democratic People’s Party (PPCD) succeeded the threshold. Thus, the PCRM won 45.98 percent of valid votes, the BMD gained 28.53 percent, while the PPCD garnered 9.07 percent. The PCRM received 56 mandates of parliamentarians, the BMD 34 mandates, and the PPCD got 11 mandates after proportionate distribution of 16.42 percent of votes given to the other 20 electoral competitors.

As many as 817 international observers, 158 foreign journalists and more than 2,300 independent local experts monitored the 2005 electoral scrutiny. The International Election Observation Mission (IEOM), which brought together observers of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the European Parliament, concluded that the March 6, 2005 parliamentary elections were generally in compliance with the international election standards. Nevertheless, IEOM registered negative trends concerning the inequitable access of electoral contestants to mass-media. This conclusion was sustained by both the US Department of State and the national observers united in the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections “Coalition 2005”.

On the other hand, the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was skeptical about the transparency of the election process, paying attention to several infringements related to the way the authorities misused administrative resources, the bias in election coverage, especially in state controlled mass-media, as well as the expulsion of several foreign observers, especially Russian citizens. According to Russian MFA, numerous infringements were noticed during the voting, when several Moldovan citizens living outside the country or in the Transnistrian region did not have the possibility to exercise their right to vote.