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Șor Party

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ȘOR Party
Partidul „ȘOR”
AbbreviationȘOR
PresidentIlan Shor
General SecretaryMaria Albot
Vice PresidentMarina Tauber
Founder and Honorary PresidentValerii Klimenco [ro]
Founded13 June 1998 (1998-06-13) (as Socio-Political Movement "Equality")
3 October 2016 (2016-10-03) (as Șor Party)
Banned19 June 2023
Succeeded byChance (de facto)
Revival (de facto)[1]
HeadquartersVasile Lupu 36, Orhei
Membership (2019)52,464[needs update]
Ideology
Political positionLeft-wing[13][14][15][16]
National affiliationChance. Duties. Realization
Victory
European affiliationEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Party (2018–2022)
Colours  Green
  Red
Slogan"Change for Moldova" (Romanian: Schimbare pentru Moldova)
Website
partidulsor.com

The ȘOR Party (Romanian: Partidul „ȘOR”, pronunciation: [ʃor]) was a left-wing populist political party in Moldova.[17] Known from its foundation in 1998 until October 2016 as the Socio-Political Movement "Equality" (Romanian: Mișcarea social-politică „Ravnopravie”),[18][19] the party holds Eurosceptic and Russophilic stances.[20]

On 19 June 2023, the Șor Party was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Moldova and has been banned ever since.

History

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The party was founded in 1998 by Moldovan politician Valerii Klimenco as the "Socio-Political Movement 'Equality'".[21] At the 2005 Moldovan parliamentary election, the party won 2.8% of the popular vote but no seats. The party intended to participate to the 2014 Moldovan parliamentary election but later withdrew its list.[22]

In 2015, the party decided to nominate Ilan Shor for Mayor of the town of Orhei. Shor, who was at that point in time under house arrest,[23] won a majority of the votes in the first round of the election and subsequently became the leading figure within the party.[21] In October 2016, Shor was elected president of the party, which was renamed Șor Party. In June 2017, the party President, Ilan Shor was sentenced to 7.5 years in jail for fraud. He broke house arrest and fled the country in 2019 whilst appealing the sentence.[24] On 1 December 2018, the party joined the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe.[25]

In December 2018, the party created a model collective farm based on its own election programme in the Orhei region, dubbing it the "Commune of Dreams".[26][27][28]

At the 2019 Moldovan parliamentary election, the party won 8.32% of votes and received seven parliamentary mandates, entering parliament for the first time in its history.[29][30] The party organized a Victory Day parade in Chișinău on 9 May 2019.[31]

2022–2023 protests

[edit]
Main article: 2022–2023 Moldovan protests

The Șor Party was the main instigator of the 2022–2023 Moldovan protests.[32]

Investigations into the party

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On 8 November 2022, the Moldovan government requested the constitutional court to initiate proceedings for the outlawing of the party in Moldova, due to it allegedly promoting the interests of a foreign state (Russia) and harming the independence and sovereignty of the country.[33][34]

On 13 April 2023, the appeal court doubled the sentence of party President Ilan Shor in a case linked to the theft of $1 billion in bank assets as well as money laundering, breach of trust, and fraud to 15 years in prison in absentia and froze his assets. Shor was living in Israel at the time of the court ruling after having fled Moldova in 2019.[35] On 27 April 2023 a plenary session of the parliament voted to revoke Shor's parliamentary mandate. Shor appealed the decision to the Constitutional court but lost he appeal on 5 May 2023.[36]

On 1 May 2023, the party's Vice President, Marina Tauber, was detained at the Chișinău International Airport while trying to leave the country for Israel via Turkey. She was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office on charges of illegally funding the party.[37][38]

In May 2023 an investigation was launched into a suspected case of bribery of voters by the Șor Party during the 2023 Gagauz gubernatorial election.[36]

Controversies

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On 19 June 2023, the Șor Party was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Moldova.[39][40][41] Șor declared that the party will continue its activity and that it will contest in the next elections.[42] Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman of the Russian foreign ministry, said that the decision to declare the Sor Party unconstitutional contravened democratic principles.[43] The court chairman Nicolae Roșca cited "an article in the constitution stating that parties must through their activities uphold political pluralism, the rule of law and the territorial integrity of Moldova."[44] The current six serving MP's of the Șor Party being allowed to continue as independents.

On 31 July, the Moldovan parliament voted in favour of banning the leaders of the dissolved Șor Party – including Ilan Shor – from standing in elections for a period of five years.[45] In October the Constitutional Court of Moldova ruled that Article 16 of the Electoral Code is unconstitutional and that former members of the Șor Party can stand for elections.[46]

In August 2023, a clone party, called “ȘANSĂ” or Chance party, led by journalist Alexei Lungu was established.[47] “ȘANSĂ” was deregistered as a political party two days before the local elections in November amid claims of using illegal funds from Russia.[48]

This ruling was reversed in March 2024 by the Moldovan Supreme Court. Maia Sandu said she would "respect the ruling, but continue trying to ban its leaders."[49]

Sanctions

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On 26 October 2022, the Șor Party was sanctioned by the United States Department of Treasury over the association with Ilan Shor, who is also sanctioned.[50]

Ideology

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The party was described as left-wing.[13][14][15][16] Its 2019 programme introduced the following points:[51]

  • Free universal health care.
  • Free education including higher education.
  • Increasing the size and scope of disability benefits, maternity benefits and retirement pensions.
  • The creation of modernised collective farms to work alongside the private sector.
  • Active state intervention in the spheres of infrastructure, transport, energy, communications, housing, pharmaceuticals, etc.
  • The nationalization of foreign-owned energy companies.
  • A commitment to law and order including both reinstating the death penalty for particularly dangerous criminals and addressing the underlying socioeconomic issues that may cause crime.
  • A commitment to Moldovan independence and military neutrality.

The opening paragraphs of the party's 2008 election programme stated that it viewed the average person's quality of life as superior under the Soviet Union when compared to modern times. It further stated that it viewed Moldova's alleged socio-economic problems as relating to Moldova's negative relationship with the Russian Federation.[52] As of 2021, the party supported moving the capital to Orhei.[53] It proposed to improve the socioeconomic situation of Moldovans by restoring Soviet economic policies, such as “measures to restore agriculture through the reconstitution of state farms” and “the nationalization of industry”.[54]

Leadership

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In June 2023

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Electoral results

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Parliament

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Election Leader Votes % ± pp Seats +/– Rank Status
2001 Valerii Klimenko 7,023
0.44%
 –
0 / 101
 – 16th Extra-parliamentary
2005 44,129
2.83%
 Increase 2.39
0 / 101
 Steady 0 Increase 6th Extra-parliamentary
2009 (April) did not contest Extra-parliamentary
2009 (July) did not contest Extra-parliamentary
2010 1,781
0.10%
 Increase 0.10
0 / 101
 Steady 0 Increase 17th Extra-parliamentary
2014 did not contest Extra-parliamentary
2019 Ilan Shor 117,779
8.32%
 Increase 8.32
7 / 101
 Increase 7 Increase 4th Opposition (until November 2019)
Support (since November 2019)
2021 84,185
5.75%
 Decrease 2.57
6 / 101
 Decrease 1 Steady 4th Opposition

Presidency

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Election Candidate First round Second round Result
Votes % Votes %
2020 Violeta Ivanov 87,542 6.49 did not qualify Lost Red XN

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "В Молдове суд признал неконституционной пророссийскую партию "Шор". Объясняем, почему это произошло и что будет дальше". Настоящее Время. 19 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Cine este Evghenia Guțul, câștigătoarea scrutinului pentru funcția de bașcan al Găgăuziei, potrivit datelor preliminare". 15 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Rocada pro-rusă pe piața de TV din Moldova. Ilan Șor preia controlul televiziunilor "Primul în Moldova" și "Accent TV" (Replicamedia.md)". G4 Media (in Romanian). 24 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Valerii Klimenco, despre participarea Maiei Sandu la summit-ul "Platforma Crimeea": A tăiat orice speranță de a S". 26 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Republica Moldova: Partidul populist pro-rus Șor a fost declarat neconstituțional". 19 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Milioane de lei moldovenești ridicați de procurori de la partidul populist pro-rus ȘOR". 11 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Parties and Elections in Europe".
  8. ^ "Moldova".
  9. ^ "Partidul Șor din Republica Moldova se opune aderării la Uniunea Europeană și la NATO". 29 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Partidul Șor vrea să interzică aderarea Moldovei la UE și NATO". 28 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Partidul Șor vrea să interzică aderarea Moldovei la UE și NATO".
  12. ^ "Partidul Șor vrea ca R. Moldova să sisteze aderarea la UE. Formațiunea anunță că va propune o inițiativă legislativă". 28 March 2023.
  13. ^ a b Necsutu, Madalin (20 January 2021). "Moldova in 2021: Political and Economic Turbulence Could Worsen Emigration". Balkan Insight. Chisinau: BIRN. The same surveys show that the Socialist Party, Our Party and the Sor Party, all of them with leftist and pro-Russian views, would all cross the threshold into parliament.
  14. ^ a b Strazzari, Francesco; Bolkvadze, Ketevan; Machavariani, Maia; Putină, Natalia; Sniadanko, Oleksandr; Petrov, Roman; Gueudet, Sophie; Teosa, Valentina (30 September 2024). "Hybridity and hybrid regimes in the Eastern Neighbourhood in a time of war and increased geopolitical tensions" (PDF). D7.1 Background paper. European Union's Horizon Europe: 28. The main left-wing parties, such as Igor Dodon's Socialist Party, Renato Usatîi's "Our Party" and formerly the Communist Party, the Former "Sor" Party, were dependent on Moscow, which provides them with financial, political and media support, considering them as tools for its own political objectives towards Moldova.
  15. ^ a b Tăbârță, Ion. "The early parliamentary elections of July 11, 2021: the Republic of Moldova between past and future" (PDF). Power, Politics & Policy (14). IDIS „Viitorul”: 1. The main left and center-left parties registered in this electoral race were: the Electoral Block of Communists and Socialists (BeCS), the "Șor" Party, the "Renato Usatii" Electoral Bloc (Be"RU"), the Common Action Party – the Civic Congress and the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM).
  16. ^ a b Socor, Vladimir (2 July 2020). "Igor Dodon, Moldova's Strawman Dictator (Part Two)". Eurasia Daily Monitor. 17 (96). The leftist competitors are the fugitive billionaire Ilan Shor's "Shor Party" and the Moscow-parachuted Balti city mayor Renato Usatii's Our Party.
  17. ^ "Programele electorale înaintea parlamentarelor din Republica Moldova: între promisiuni și populism". www.veridica.ro (in Romanian). 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Partidul "Şor" (PŞ) / Partide.md".
  19. ^ Gherasim, Mihaela (3 November 2014). "Mișcarea "Ravnopravie" (MR)". Radio Europa Liberă.
  20. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Moldova". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  21. ^ a b "История партии - Partidul Şor". partidulsor.md. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  22. ^ "Archived copy". a.cec.md. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ "Moldova set for coalition talks after inconclusive election". Reuters. 25 February 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  24. ^ "Moldova court doubles prison sentence of pro-Russia politician hiding in Israel". 14 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Our Family | Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE)". ACRE. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  26. ^ Российский политолог: Партия ШОР будет способствовать восстановлению отношений с Россией. Молдова.орг (in Russian). 23 February 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  27. ^ правды», Комсомольская правда | Сайт «Комсомольской (20 December 2018). ""Коммуна мечты": Партия ШОР восстановила колхоз в коммуне Жора де Мижлок". KP.MD - сайт «Комсомольской правды» (in Russian). Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  28. ^ Партия "Шор" восстановила колхоз в коммуне Жора де Мижлок. Point.md (in Russian). Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  29. ^ "cu privire la totalizarea rezultatelor alegerilor Parlamentului Republicii Moldova în circumscripția națională și circumscripțiile uninominale din 24 februarie 2019". a.cec.md (in Romanian). 3 March 2019. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  30. ^ "Moldovan parliamentary election". IHS Markit. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  31. ^ "Партия "ШОР" организует марш Победы 9 Мая - Partidul Şor". partidulsor.md. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  32. ^ Meica, Otilia (16 October 2022). "FOTO/ Un nou protest organizat de Partidul Șor. Țurcanu: "Solicităm de urgență ca Ivan Ceban să lase odihna și să vină în fața poporului, de altfel este mână-n mână cu Maia Sandu"".
  33. ^ Călugăreanu, Vitalie (8 November 2022). "Ministrul Justiției declanșează mecanismul de interzicere a partidului "Șor"" [The Minister of Justice triggers the mechanism to ban the "Șor" party]. Deutsche Welle (in Romanian). Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Последний аккорд оппозиции: Минюст Молдавии инициировал запрет партии «Шор»" [The last chord of the opposition: the Ministry of Justice of Moldova initiated a ban on the Șor party]. EurAsia Daily (in Russian). 8 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  35. ^ Service, RFE/RL's Moldovan. "Moldovan Court Increases Fugitive Shor's Prison Sentence To 15 Years". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty.
  36. ^ a b "Moldovan Prosecutors Raid Pro-Russian Shor Party in Gagauzia". 8 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Moldova opposition party vice-chair detained at Chisinau airport". News.am. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  38. ^ "Moldovan Prosecutors Say Top Official With Pro-Russian Political Party Detained At Airport". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  39. ^ "Partidul ȘOR, scos în afara legii de Curtea Constituțională de la Chișinău. Formațiunea oligarhului fugar ar fi pus la cale o lovitură de stat". Ziare.com (in Romanian). Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  40. ^ "Ultima oră! Partidul Șor, declarat neconstituțional de Înalta Curte". UNIMEDIA (in Romanian). 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  41. ^ "Partidul ȘOR, declarat neconstituțional / Maia Sandu: Moldovenii vor să trăiască într-un stat de drept, unde organizațiile criminale nu sunt protejate, ci împiedicate să captureze statul". G4 Media (in Romanian). 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  42. ^ "Ilan Şor o amenință pe Maia Sandu după ce partidul său a fost scos în afara legii. "Îți recomand să-ți faci bagajele"". 19 June 2023.
  43. ^ "Prima reacție a Moscovei după ce partidul prorus "Șor" a fost scos în afara legii: Urmează o regină română a întregii Moldove?". 19 June 2023.
  44. ^ Tanas, Alexander (19 June 2023). "Moldova bans pro-Russian Shor party after months of protests". Reuters. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  45. ^ Service, RFE/RL's Moldovan (31 July 2023). "Moldovan Parliament Bans Leaders Of Dissolved Russia-Backed Party From Elections". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  46. ^ "CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ALOWS FORMER ŞOR PARTY MEMBERS TO RUN IN ELECTIONS". 4 October 2023.
  47. ^ ""ȘANSA" lui Șor s-a mutat în sediul lui Plahotniuc. Un nou partid clonă al oligarhilor fugari". 8 August 2023.
  48. ^ "Moldova's 'Chance' Party Stumbles as Local Elections Approach; Customs Service Strengthens International Ties". 3 November 2023.
  49. ^ "Moldovan court strikes down law barring pro-Russian party from polls". Reuters. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  50. ^ "Treasury Targets Corruption and the Kremlin's Malign Influence Operations in Moldova". State.gov. 26 October 2022.
  51. ^ "Политическая программа Партии ШОР - Partidul Şor". partidulsor.md. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  52. ^ "Programul mișcării Ravnopravie" (PDF). E-Democracy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  53. ^ "Ilan Șor: Orheiul – să devina capitala Republicii Moldova și o perlă a Europei - Partidul Şor". partidulsor.md. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  54. ^ Macuhin, Alexandr (2021). "2021 Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova – An attempt at post-election analysis". Eastern Review. 10 (1): 47. doi:10.18778/1427-9657.10.04.
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