Parliament 14 Jan approved PM Vlad Filat’s new govt led by re-formed 3-party Alliance for European Integration (AEI); opposition communists boycotted vote. AEI holds 59 out of 101 seats in parliament; Filat 3 Jan said hopes to gain 2 extra votes needed to meet 61-vote threshold needed to elect president. EU 24 Jan gave Moldova “action plan” for visa-free travel for Moldovans within bloc.

Constitutional Court 10 Dec ordered recount of 28 Nov parliamentary election votes in response to request from Communist Party, which alleged errors in count, “massive irregularities” in vote; international observers said ballot free and fair. Democratic Party, Liberal Party and Liberal Democratic Party 30 Dec agreed to establish pro-Western alliance in parliament; still short of 61 votes needed to elect new president. New session of parliament same day elected Democratic Party leader Marian Lupu as speaker, acting president. Lupu 1 Jan designated former PM Vlad Filat to form new govt. U.S. cable published by WikiLeaks reported attempt by former president Voronin Sept 2009 to bribe Lupu $10mn to form coalition. Court in separatist Transdniestria sentenced journalist Ernest Vardanean to 15 years prison for spying.

3-party coalition Alliance for European Integration won 59 out of 101 parliament seats in 28 Nov election, 2 seats short of majority required to nominate new president. Communist party won 42 seats. Journalist Ernest Vardanean put on trial in Transdniester 3 Nov on charges of spying for Moldova secret services.

EU FMs 21 Oct agreed to work towards visa-free regime with Moldova.

5 Sept referendum on whether president should be elected by popular vote, rather than current system of parliamentary vote, failed due to low 29% turnout. Acting President Ghimpu 28 Sept dissolved parliament, set early elections for 28 Nov. Ghimpu 15 Sept announced intent to start legal proceedings against former president Voronin over role quelling Apr 2009 anti-govt protests. OSCE, Russian, Ukrainian mediators held talks with govt and Transdniestrian officials 21-22 Sept.

Acting president Ghimpu 19 Aug called for unity within ruling coalition Alliance for European Integration ahead of mid-Nov elections. Followed reports of plans by Moscow to break up alliance, support formation of new political coalition consisting of former parliamentary chairman Lupu’s Democratic Party and former President Voronin’s Communist Party.

Following controversial June decree by acting President Ghimpu demanding Moscow withdraw troops from Transdniestria and designating 28 June as national “Day of Soviet Occupation”, Russia early month halted imports of Moldovan wine citing poor quality.

Moldovan PM welcomed 5 June memorandum between German Chancellor Merkel and Russian President Medvedev proposing creation of EU-Russia security forum to tackle frozen conflicts, with Transdniestria as first issue on agenda. In unprecedented move, Interim President Mihai Ghimpu 25 June issued decree demanding Moscow withdraw troops from Transdniestria. Govt 3 June announced will hold referendum in Sept on constitutional changes to allow direct election of country’s president, following prolonged stalemate with election of president by parliament. Reports early June of EU High Rep Ashton’s plans to abolish post of EU Special Representative to country triggered protest by officials fearing downgrading of EU engagement.

Russian President Medvedev, Ukrainian President Yanukovych 17 May signed joint statement referring to Transdniestria and Moldova as separate entities, calling for Transdniestria to be given “special status”. EU High Rep Ashton 17 May issued statement reaffirming commitment to 5+2 negotiations format, Moldovan territorial integrity, sovereignty. Govt in 18 May statement asked Russia to pull troops, ammunition out of Transdniestria.

Series of trials, arrests over month in connection with Apr 2009 post-election violence resulting in at least 1 killed, hundreds arrested and allegedly abused in detention. Former Interior Minister Papuc and Chisinau’s former Police Commissioner Botnari went on trial 20 Apr on charges of “negligence with serious consequences”. Following 5 Apr release by acting President Ghimpu of video of police abuse of protesters, authorities 15 Apr arrested Chisinau’s former police chief on charges of abuse of power. Low-ranking policeman charged early month with killing 27-year-old demonstrator. Ruling coalition 15 Apr submitted to Constitutional Court proposal for constitutional revision to allow direct election of country’s president.