Page 61 - Central & Southeast Outlook 2020

2.7 ​Politics - Moldova
Moldova has undergone major political turmoil since the February 24, 2019 elections:​three governments succeeded each other during the year and pro-Russian President Igor Dodon eventually gained full control over the executive.
Dodon’s Socialist Party (PSRM) first teamed up with the pro-EU ACUM bloc at the end of June to overthrow the government of the Democrat Party (PDM), and later in mid-November it teamed up with the Democrats (that underwent a political re-positioning after its leader Vlad Plahotniuc left the country) to overthrow the government headed by ACUM’s Maia Sandu.
Overall, it was the year of President Dodon, who defeated both his rivals. Plahotniuc, who had been increasing his control over all state structures until June 2019, fled the country and is now being pursued by the prosecution office that is gradually coming under the control of the president. Meanwhile, Sandu has lost her credibility among pro-EU voters after her deal with the pro-Russian president.
Furthermore, Dodon managed to pursue his plans with the support of Moldova’s Eastern and Western development partners, which brokered the PSRM-ACUM coalition in June.
The second government appointed by Dodon this year, headed by his former adviser Ion Chicu, was installed by the Socialists following major technical mistakes by Sandu in a dispute with Dodon over how Moldova’s chief prosecutor is appointed.
Moldova’s Western development partners welcomed Sandu’s government, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) resumed its financing during the summer. Now, the European Union had expressed concerns after Dodon appointed his adviser as prime minister. This could have repercussions later on; Chicu does not rely, at least currently, on the IMF’s support, but that that might change if the $500mn Chicu says he expects from Russia fails to arrive.
2.8 ​Politics - Montenegro
In 2020, Montenegro will hold a general election that the long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) is expected to win,​despite efforts by the opposition to join forces.
President Milo Djukanovic and his party have dominated Montenegro’s political life for more than three decades and, according to polls carried out in 2019, the party will hold its leading position in 2020 as well.
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