LOC withdraws from “Împreună” ahead of Moldova elections
The League of Towns and Municipalities (LOC) has officially withdrawn from the ”Împreună” (Together) political bloc and will contest the upcoming parliamentary elections independently on September 28.
The announcement was made on July 7 by the bloc’s co-chair, Alexandru Bujorean, who strongly criticized the bloc’s internal failings and what he described as attempts by the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) to monopolize the Republic of Moldova’s path toward European integration.
According to LOC, pressure was exerted to make the “Together” bloc run on PAS’s electoral list. “These parliamentary elections are pivotal for safeguarding our European course. This path does not belong to any one political party—it is the result of collective efforts by all citizens of the Republic of Moldova. Its continuity, essential to our future, can only be ensured by a democratically elected pro-European majority and a governing coalition committed to real reforms, not mere imitations,” Bujorean declared.
He stated that the League of Towns and Municipalities was the initiator of the “Together” bloc, but the project lost direction due to “the ruling party’s arrogance” and a “lack of vision” within the bloc. In recent months, he claimed, efforts to expand the alliance and encourage political dialogue were sabotaged, leaving the bloc increasingly isolated.
“The dominant narrative within the bloc has become that its only chance to enter the next Parliament is by running on PAS’s list or in alliance with it. This approach deprives disillusioned citizens of the opportunity to vote for alternative pro-European voices and turns them into image-bearers for a government desperately seeking legitimacy ahead of the elections,” the LOC co-chair added.
Bujorean also called PAS’s offer—just three places on its electoral list for the bloc’s four constituent parties—“humiliating and destructive,” saying it revealed a “clear attempt at political subordination.” LOC will enter the elections on its own, though it remains open to cooperation with “honest, untainted, and courageous forces, such as the Dignity and Truth Platform (DA),” Bujorean said. He reaffirmed that the party he leads will stay true to the public interest and seek to build a healthy and professional political force.
Dinu Plîngău, representative of the Dignity and Truth Platform, told Teleradio-Moldova that the “Together” bloc remains committed to uniting pro-European, right-leaning forces, despite LOC’s departure. He stressed that unifying democratic parties is crucial in the current political climate, which is marked by external pressure and financial interference, including from the Russian Federation.
“The ‘Together’ bloc has publicly committed to uniting all right-leaning forces, especially as the left consolidates. Very concerning developments are unfolding, with money flowing in from various sources—from Russia and from fugitive oligarchs. These developments are deeply troubling, particularly because what’s at stake is not just whether we have a democratic or authoritarian government, but also the direction of our European integration. We’ve tried to be constructive. We’ve spoken with various political groups in pursuit of this goal. Of course, not everyone may agree with the approach we’ve proposed,” said Plîngău.
Asked about LOC’s withdrawal, Plîngău refrained from direct criticism, noting that he had hoped for a unified solution until the very last moment: “It was a surprise for us as well. Discussions were held. A meeting of the bloc will be convened today. The other three member parties remain united.” It is worth mentioning that four parties formed the “Together” bloc in 2024: the Coalition for Unity and Welfare (CUB), the Dignity and Truth Platform (DA), the Party of Change, and the League of Towns and Municipalities. CUB later withdrew from the bloc, but in the spring, the Ecologist Green Party joined.
In the 2023 local elections, the League of Towns and Municipalities won control of 16 mayoral offices (1.79%), 192 local council seats (1.92%), and 22 district council seats (2.03%).
Translation by Iurie Tataru
