Moldova parliamentary elections: Candidacy applications now open
As of Sunday, July 20, individuals wishing to run in the parliamentary elections on September 28 can submit their applications to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).
Moldovan citizens with voting rights, who have reached the age of 18 by election day and face no restrictions on exercising their right to vote or be elected, are eligible to enter the electoral race.
According to the CEC, the right to nominate candidates belongs to:
- Political parties that are eligible to participate in elections, based on data provided by the Public Services Agency and confirmed by the CEC;
- Electoral blocs established and registered by the CEC;
- Citizens of the Republic of Moldova who run independently of political parties and electoral blocs, and who, as of 70 days before election day, have not held membership in or publicly affirmed support for any political party (independent candidates).
For political parties and electoral blocs, the nomination of candidates for Member of Parliament (MP) in the Moldovan Parliament follows a special procedure. This involves meetings of the parties' and/or electoral blocs' statutory bodies, confirmed by official minutes and resolutions/decisions regarding candidate nominations. These must be accompanied by a nominal list of participants at the responsible body's meeting and documents confirming the numerical and nominal composition of that body, as stated by the CEC.
Additionally, independent candidates must collect and submit signature collection lists from at least 2,000 and no more than 2,500 people to the Commission. By derogation, a female candidate will submit at least 1,000 and no more than 2,500 supporting signatures to the Commission.
To collect signatures, independent candidates may form initiative groups.
Parties and electoral blocs will submit lists of at least 51 and no more than 111 candidates, accompanied by the required documentation for each individual, as per the regulations approved by the CEC. The lists must be submitted in Romanian, both in hard copy and electronic format, and must adhere to a gender quota of a minimum of 40% for each sex.
The deadline for submitting documents is August 19, 2025.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
