AUR rebrands as European National Conservative Party, keeping its ideals
The Alliance for the Unity of Romanians in the Republic of Moldova has decided to change its name to the European National Conservative Party (PNCE). According to the party, this name change signifies a new political phase and reflects their formal adoption of European conservative principles, while still upholding their declared strategic goal of "National Reunification."
The decision was made at the party's congress on June 21. During the event, Boris Volosatîi was re-elected president, and Vadim Vacarciuc was elected vice president of the party.
Boris Volosatîi stated, "The European National Conservative Party aims to transform the ideal of union into a project built through concrete steps. This involves bringing together institutions, economies, and communities on both banks of the Prut."
The party advocates for harmonizing the legislation and institutions of the Republic of Moldova with those of Romania and the European Union. This includes creating a common information, education, and cultural space; developing a unified labor market; integrating strategic transport, energy, and communication infrastructures; strengthening cooperation in security and defense; and progressively integrating healthcare systems.
The name change comes after a period in which the Chisinau-based party publicly distanced itself from the Romanian AUR party, asserting its identity as an independent political party.
AUR Republica Moldova publicly dissociated itself from the Romanian party in the summer of 2025. In August of that year, the party's leader, Boris Volosatîi, declared that AUR Moldova was an independent entity and not a branch of AUR Romania.
The differentiation became even more pronounced in September 2025, when AUR Moldova rejected the announcement made in Bucharest about withdrawing from the parliamentary elections. The party reaffirmed that it is a distinct political entity with its own leadership and decision-making processes.
The transformation into PNCE marks the culmination of efforts to clarify the party's political identity and to separate it from its direct association with the similarly named party in Romania.
The roots of the party that became the PNCE can be traced back to 2013. It was initially registered as the Liberal Reform Party (PLR), established when a group of politicians left the Liberal Party. Subsequently, it changed its name to the Romanian People's Party (PPR), and in 2021, it adopted the name Alliance for the Unification of Romanians in the Republic of Moldova.
The party, known as AUR, advocated for a unionist message and aimed to foster political, economic, and institutional ties between the Republic of Moldova and Romania.
After its registration, the party participated in various electoral events, including the early parliamentary elections of 2021, the parliamentary elections of 2025, and the constitutional referendum on European integration in 2024.
