The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has asked the Ministry of Justice to restrict the activity of the political party “Heart of Moldova”, led by Irina Vlah. The decision, taken on September 17, cites alleged illegal financing of the party.
“Heart of Moldova” is part of the Patriotic Electoral Bloc and is running in the September 28 parliamentary elections. Party representatives argue there is no evidence to support the accusations, while CEC members insist that the violations are “100% proven.”
The party announced it will contest the decision. Irina Vlah called the move a “government attempt, carried out through pocket parties, to remove us from the electoral race,” adding that CEC violated the principle of presumption of innocence by acting before the results of its own financial audit.
On September 5, Moldova’s Interinstitutional Supervisory Council, operating under the Government, ordered the freezing of Irina Vlah’s bank accounts. She is accused of failing to declare five bank accounts in her wealth statement submitted to CEC. Vlah filed an appeal, accusing Prime Minister Dorin Recean of abuse of office and claiming he is using his position as both premier and electoral competitor against her. Recean rejected the allegations, saying the former Bashkan of Gagauzia is “playing the victim.”