Elections 2019 in Moldova: New Challenges and new opportunities for cooperation within Ukraine-Moldova-Romania Triangle

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Moldova is an important part of the intricate regional situation in the Black Sea region. Redefning Russia’s role by the states of the region, created the prerequisites for bringing together the positions of Ukraine and Moldova on a whole range of issues, also it led to the resetting of Ukrainian-Romanian relations. Regional transformation was the basis that united the tripartite platform of cooperation – Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Romania. The parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova, which will take place in 2019, will largely determine new challenges and opportunities for this format of cooperation. The strengthening of Russian influence in Moldova does not please either Ukraine or Romania, which has its own interests in this zone. Moreover, the fate of the Transnistrian conflict largely depends on the results of the elections. Approaches that will be applied to the resolution in the Transnistrian conflict can later be used as scenarios for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict with regard to the Eastern regions of Ukraine. Romania’s contribution to the promotion of the democracy in Ukraine and Moldova is extremely important in this context. Dynamic development of relations within the trilateral format and shift away from the policy of small steps are critical at this stage of European integration. The geopolitical subtext of the elections is typical for election campaigns held in the Republic of Moldova. This is due to a whole complex of factors, among which the historical one is defining. In the run-up to the Parliamentary elections of 2019, this subtext remains and will be accompanied by very tough geopolitical statements, manipulations that inevitably confront pro-European and pro-Russian interests. Electoral technologies and tactics, administrative resources will again be widely used to lobby the interests of certain candidates in this struggle.

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