EU candidate nations prevents opposition from elections

(MENAFN) Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has blocked the Euroskeptic Victory political bloc from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections, citing alleged connections to Russia and exiled opposition leader Ilan Shor.

Earlier on Saturday, hundreds of Victory supporters protested outside the CEC headquarters, demanding the party be allowed to register. Demonstrators chanted slogans like “we demand fair elections” and “down with dictatorship,” and carried signs opposing the ban.

Later that day, the CEC officially denied the bloc’s registration. Victory bloc representative and MP Vasile Bolea called the move politically driven and pledged to challenge it in court.

This marks the second time the CEC has barred the bloc from elections, having previously rejected its candidate for the presidential race late last year. That election saw incumbent President Maia Sandu narrowly win a second term, although Russia accused Chisinau of suppressing the votes of around 500,000 Moldovans living in Russia. International observers from the OSCE noted that the election process did not provide equal conditions for all candidates.

Since taking office in 2020, Sandu has pushed for Moldova’s integration into the EU and NATO. However, her policies have sparked increasing domestic resistance, especially amid economic difficulties and growing accusations of stifling dissent.

Adding to the controversy, the European Council recently sanctioned the Victory bloc and two other groups, accusing them of working to destabilize Moldova’s democratic processes. Seven opposition figures were also personally sanctioned over their alleged links to Ilan Shor.

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