Moldova’s New Parliament Convenes as Five Parties Declare Opposition to PAS Majority

Overview

• Six factions were constituted at the inaugural session — PAS, Socialists, Communists, the Alternative bloc, Our Party, and Democracy at Home — with lawmakers beginning to organize committees and leadership posts.
• PAS holds 55 of 101 seats, with the Patriot bloc on 26, the Alternative bloc on 8, and Our Party and Democracy at Home securing 6 each.
• Opposition leaders Igor Dodon, Diana Karaman, Renato Usatîi, Haik Vartanian, and Vasiliy Kostiuk said their factions will oppose the government’s course and advocate an alternative agenda.
• Opposition figures alleged serious abuses in the Sept. 28 election, citing administrative pressure, only two polling stations in Moscow with 10,000 ballots, and obstacles for Transnistrian voters that left just over 12,000 of 270,000 able to cast ballots.
• President Maia Sandu stressed support for Ukraine and the defense of democracy in her address, drawing criticism from Dodon as divisive.