Moldova socialists hold family march ahead of pride parade
The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) organized a large-scale "Family March" in Chisinau on Saturday. The public demonstration took place just one day before the scheduled annual LGBTQ+ community rally.
Participants marched through the capital holding national flags and red balloons featuring political party branding. The crowd publicly expressed its deep dissatisfaction with local sexual minorities and emerging social reforms.
Centering the demonstration around the slogan "If families exist, the country survives," hundreds of participants walked from Metropolitan Gavriil Banulescu-Bodoni Street toward the Metropolitan Cathedral square. The march was accompanied by traditional music broadcasted through mobile speakers.
While some attendees refused to answer journalistic inquiries, others acknowledged that their transportation from outer regions, such as Soldanesti, had been systematically organized by the political party. However, they denied receiving any financial remuneration for their presence.
During the event, participants advocated for a family structure restricted strictly to a mother, father, and children, using derogatory color-coded terms to reject LGBTQ+ identities. They stated that the traditional family structure represents the only viable future for the nation.
PSRM President Igor Dodon and several socialist members of parliament led the processional column through the city center. Dodon framed the rally as a positive affirmation rather than an aggressive counter-protest.
"We are not protesting against anyone," Dodon stated. "If we were against them, we would have marched on the exact same street tomorrow. This event sends a clear message that we are an Orthodox country that respects traditional family values."
Socialist MP Grigore Novac supported this view, noting that the march aimed to highlight the necessity of preserving traditional social institutions, while stating that alternative public demonstrations were unnecessary for the country.
The Moldova Pride 2026 march is scheduled to take place on Sunday, marking the milestone 25th edition of the festival. This year, the LGBTQ+ event operates under the official slogan: "Love creates, the law protects."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
