Dodon

Into the Unknown

Moldova watchers and regional analysts alike are keenly trying to make sense of the new ruling coalition that has taken power in Chisinau. Made up of pro-European reformists and pro-Russian parties, the new government is seen as an unholy alliance and somewhat of a dark horse.

The General Prosecutor's Office in Moldova announced on Tuesday that it has initiated a criminal investigation into the country's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon over allegations that his Socialist Party has received up to $1 million a month from Moscow.

Moldova faces a fresh political crisis after the Constitutional Court declared the new government, led by the pro-European leader Maia Sandu and sworn in on Saturday, illegal.

The Court, which is widely seen as heavily influenced by the Democratic Party, also ordered the dissolution of parliament, which means new legislative elections must be held.

President Igor Dodon said on Wednesday that MPs have two weeks to establish a governing majority and get parliament functioning again or he will call for early elections.

"If during this period [of two weeks], deputies do not find a consensus and create a parliamentary majority, then the president of Moldova will have to dissolve parliament," Dodon said.

The pro-Russian President of Moldova, Igor Dodon, and supporters of the Socialist Party on Thursday led a march to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Red Army victory over Nazi Germany and the end of World War II.

"It must be an equal celebration for everybody. Victory Day is a celebration of all citizens in Moldova," Dodon said.

Moldovan President Igor Dodon has declared 2019 the "year of the Stephen the Great," recalling a famous ruler of Moldova in the 15th and 16th century - in what many see as a campaign to boost support for Moldovan independence and counter pro-Romanian forces ahead of next year's elections. 

Moldova's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon said on Tuesday that Russian Patriarch Kirill will visit Moldova from October 27 to 28 - a shorter visit than the four-day trip that was initially announced.

The Russian Patriarch has cancelled his planned sermon in Tiraspol in the breakaway region of Transnistria.

Moldova will host on Friday and Saturday a gathering of conservative, anti-gay and anti-abortion Christian groups called the World Congress of Families under the auspices of pro-Russian President Igor Dodon.

Also, the event has the support of the benefit fund of Igor Dodon`s wife, Galina Dodon, an NGO which allegedly conducts some political driven social campaigns.

After Moldova's President, Igor Dodon, was involved in a car accident on Sunday, some pro-Russian Socialist deputies have claimed that he was the victim of a murder attempt.

"This was not an accident but a direct blow to the car. This is an attempt at murder!" Socialist deputy Vlad Batrincea wrote on Facebook.

Moldovan pro-Russian President Igor Dodon left on Monday for a new pilgrimage to Orthodox monasteries on Mount Athos in Greece which are canonically subordinate to Moscow's Patriarchy, months ahead of the legislative elections scheduled for the beginning of 2019.