On Friday, September 26, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) voted to exclude the candidates of the “Heart of Moldova” Party from the list of the Patriotic Electoral Bloc, which includes the Socialists, Communists, Heart of Moldova, and Future of Moldova. The CEC cited the violation of the gender quota rule, which requires the list to be rearranged every 10 positions within 24 hours.
The CEC first took a break at the request of Vice Chair Pavel Postica, who explained that the Centru Court of Appeal’s decision must be enforced. He emphasized that the ruling clearly restricts the activity of the party led by Irina Vlah, which made it necessary to cancel the registration of all its candidates.
The CEC chair Angela Caraman put the issue to a vote: six members supported exclusion, and three opposed it.
Meanwhile, members and supporters of the Patriotic Bloc protested outside the CEC headquarters.
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The case sparked controversy. Socialist leader Vlad Batrîncea challenged at the Constitutional Court the provision in the Law on Political Parties that allows restrictions on party activity during elections, accusing the PAS government of political abuse. Irina Vlah also called the decision “politically motivated.” She has already been declared persona non grata in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Canada, and Lithuania.