Constitutional Court Election ruling: PDA faces funding ban
Moldova's Constitutional Court faces only two legal options in validating the parliamentary election results: either to confirm all 101 parliamentary seats, or to invalidate the entire election result, asserts the president of the "Democracy at Home" Party (PDA), Vasile Costiuc.
Speaking on the Moldova 1 show "Pe față" (Face to Face/Out in the Open) on 6 October, the party leader Vasile Costiuc said he had consulted constitutional law experts and confirmed that "there is no third option" regarding the Court's final decision.
The Central Election Commission (CEC), however, sanctioned the PDA over financial irregularities committed during the election campaign and left it to the Constitutional Court to decide on validating the six parliamentary seats obtained by the party in the 28 September parliamentary elections.
Mr Costiuc mentioned that the party challenged several CEC decisions in court, including those by which the party was penalised and deprived of public funding for a period of two years.
"The elections have already been recognised by the Central Election Commission and all the results have been sent," Mr Costiuc said. "Today, as we understand it, the Constitutional Court is awaiting what we call the finalisation of the entire process. For example, we still have three more cases pending in the first-instance courts and at the Centru Court of Appeal. We contested the actions of the Central Election Commission. Until everything is finalised, the Constitutional Court cannot rule."
He continued: "The Constitutional Court either validates the entire process and all 101 mandates, or it invalidates it on the grounds of deviations, violations, or external interference, as cited by the CEC. In that case, the Constitutional Court must invalidate all 101 mandates, and we must go to either repeat elections or early elections. Depending on several factors, both votes could take place."
When asked if he wants early elections, the PDA leader stated that the party relies on stability and coherent reforms, not political confrontations.
"We don't want elections, and this is our frustration with those who are playing at elections—the protest vote could be much larger in future early elections than it was this time," Vasile Costiuc said.
The president of the "Democracy at Home" Party added that his party was subjected to "extremely harsh sanctions" after the elections and that he also challenged the decisions regarding the cut in public funding at the Centru Court of Appeal.
Mr Costiuc claims the purpose of these sanctions was the party's "political elimination," but the PDA intends to remain active in public life and promote legislative projects focused on the economy, the protection of local producers, and the reduction of administrative expenses.
"These penalties are extremely harsh. I believe the goal was, in general, our elimination. The request from the Action and Solidarity Party was filed right on election day at 8:00 PM, but it was only examined a few days after the vote, when it could no longer be implemented," Costiuc declared.
He also specified that the PDA was deprived of allocations from the state budget for a period of two years, a fact that puts financial pressure on the party.
"They cut my resources, and I understand why: for two years, in anticipation of the local elections. The first penalty is for 12 months, and the last one, from 5 October, is also for 12 months, until 2027," the party leader said.
The party president specified that his party conducted the election campaign with limited means, using funds from previous allocations, about 40,000 to 43,000 lei monthly.
"This allowed us to have an office, which we reported to the Central Election Commission, and, primarily, fuel and online services," he pointed out.
Regarding the future activity in Parliament if the six parliamentary seats obtained by the PDA are validated, Mr Costiuc affirmed that the party will concentrate on economic and social initiatives that support local entrepreneurs and reduce dependence on imports. He also announced the intention to propose a price cap on essential goods, following the model applied in Romania, mentioning that "both producers and consumers, but especially ordinary people, stand to gain."
The "Democracy at Home" Party (PDA) won 88,679 votes (5.62% of the total) in the parliamentary elections held on 28 September 2025.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
