Introduction

Analyzed in this chapter are the most important aspects of the internal organization of Moldavian political parties. It was very important for Moldavian researchers to present the experience of Moldavian parties in a complex comparative context. The Moldavian party system is still young and political parties are not yet institutionalized. This is why it is very important to study issues such as: the legal regulation of parties, party structures, relations between leaders and organizational structures, party membership, and other issues. To ensure that this research was appropriately representative of the Moldavian political scene, we selected five parliamentary parties. The conclusions submitted will help us to better understand the specifics of political processes in Moldova.

Key Legal Solutions Devoted to the Creation and Function of Political Parties

The legal framework governing political parties in Moldova is a product of over twenty years of national independence. There are two main legal acts concerning the activity of political parties: the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova (1994) and the Law on Political Parties (2007). In addition to these documents, there are other legal acts with specific regulations regarding political parties, such as the Election Code of 1997, but these will not be the subject of this study. However, the statues of parties are relevant for this article. We will focus on five political parties that have been in the Moldovan Parliament since the national elections of 30 November, 2014: the Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova (Statute of SPRM from 2013); the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (Statute of LDPM from 2011); the Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova (Statute of CPRM from 2008); the Democratic Party of Moldova (Statute of DPM from 2012); and the Liberal Party (Statute of LP from 2014).

The Constitution of the Republic of Moldova contains provisions on political parties. Naturally, they are of a general nature and do not expressly relate to the organization of parties. Nevertheless, the constitution does include a framework for their organization and operation.