Politics of Transnistria

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2005 election posters, all of them in Russian

Transnistria
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Transnistria

President Igor Smirnov Parliament Political parties Disputed status War of Transnistria Human rights 2006 presidential election See also: Politics of Moldova
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Politics of Transnistria, a de facto independent region of the Republic of Moldova in Eastern Europe, takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Transnistria is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. Formally, Transnistria has a multi-party system and an unicameral parliament, called Transnistrian Supreme Soviet. The president is elected by popular vote. The latest parliamentary elections were held in December 2005; however, they were not monitored by international organizations such as Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which has expressed doubts about the level of democracy in the region, and were not recognized by other countries.

Political parties from Moldova don't recognize the Transnistrian government and don't participate at elections organized by it.

1 Political parties and elections in Transnistria
2 Electorate shrinkage
3 Political freedom in Transnistria
4 Participation of Transnistrians at Moldovan elections
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

Political parties and elections in Transnistria

See also: List of political parties in Transnistria

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 9 December 2001 Transnistrian presidential **election results**
Candidates	Votes	%
Igor Smirnov		81.9
Tom Zenovich		4.7
Alexander Radchenko - Power to the People		4.6
Source: British Helsinki Human Right Group

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 11 December 2005 Transnistrian Supreme Soviet **election results**
Parties	%	Seats
Renewal (Obnovlenie)	.	23
Republic (Respublika)	.	13
Allies of Renovation	.	6
Non-partisans	.	1
Total (turnout 56.3%)		43
Source: pridnestrovie.net

Summary of the 10 December 2000 legislative election results	%	Seats
Unity (Yedinstvo)	.	9
Renewal (Obnovleniy)	.	7
Power to the People (Vlast Narodu)	.	1
Non-partisans	.	25
vacant		1
Total (turnout ? %)		43

Source: Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Electorate shrinkage

As shown by census results, between 1989 and 2004 the population in Transnistria decreased by 18% ^[1]. This is significantly higher than the decrease of population in the Republic of Moldova (which was 6%, for the same period ^[2]).

Data issued by Transnistrian authorities show that of the 555,500 inhabitants, a total of 394,861 are registered to vote, down 5.6% from a year earlier.^[3]

Political freedom in Transnistria

There is disagreement as to whether elections in Transnistria are free and fair. Western organizations, such as the OSCE, have declared that no democratic elections can take place in the region under the present circumstances and have refused to even monitor them. Some parties and publications were banned.

People's Power Party led by Supreme Soviet member Alexander Radchenko was banned in May 2001; after an appeal the ban was lifted but was reintroduced in December 2001, again the ban was lifted to be reintroduced in August 2002 and confirmed by the "Supreme Court" in December 2002.^[4].

"Power to the People" Party led by Nicolae Butchatsky was banned in February 2002 ^[5].

On November 14, 2001, the Transnistrian customs service banned the distribution of the publication "Glas Naroda", as it contained Radchenko's electoral platform. Radchenko said in a press conference that "Glas Naroda" has been published outside Transnistria because all the printing houses had refused to print it after having discussed the issue with representatives of the Ministry of State Security ^[6].

Election results are suspicious, as in 2001 in one region it was reported that Kamchatka-raised former metalworker Igor Smirnov collected 103.6% of the votes. Nevertheless, some organizations, such as CIS-EMO, have participated and have called them democratic.

In August 2006, one month before the referendum against reintegration in Moldova, 4 members of pro-Moldovan NGO "Dignitas" from Slobozia were brought in for questioning by Transnistrian law enforcement as part of an investigation into a bus explosion which had taken place three days earlier and which killed two people. They were released after few days in custody, no charges being made against them ^[7].

In November 2006, the Moldovan press reported that the offices of the Rîbniţa district committee of the Communist Party in Transnistria were closed by the local Transnistrian authorities.^[8]. The Communist Party of Moldova condemned the act and claims it was closed under false pretenses.^[9]

Participation of Transnistrians at Moldovan elections

Despite the fact that the majority of Transnistrians hold Moldovan citizenship^{[citation needed]}, Transnistria does not allow the organisation of Moldovan elections in Transnistrian territory. Likewise, Moldova also does not allow the organization of Transnistrian elections in Moldovan-controlled territory. Polling stations were organised only in those areas of Transnistria under Moldovan government control.

Political parties from Moldova have organisations in Transnistria^[10] but refuse to participate at elections for secessionist government, they participate only in the elections of the Republic of Moldova.

In 2005 Moldovan parliamentary elections nine special polling stations were organised near Dniester for "guest voters" coming from Transnistria who wished to vote in the Moldovan elections. Around 8000 citizens voted there, who were included in suplimentarry voter rolls. In those special polling stations results were: 30% for Communist Party (compared with 46% in entire Moldova), 50% for Democratic Moldova Bloc (28,5% in entire Moldova), 8% for Christian-Democratic Party (9,1% in entire Moldova) and 6% for each Social Democratic Party and Patria-Rodina Bloc. Due to large turnout of Transnistrian voters queues were formed and some voters didn't managed to vote. As claimed by the Coalition for Free and Democratic Elections, many Transnistrian voters were not informed properly about the place of the voting and some owners of Soviet passport which don't bear the mention "citizen of Moldova" were not allowed to vote^[11].