| Liberal Party | |
| President: | Dorin Chirtoacă |
| Secretary General: | Ion Apostol |
| Abbreviation: | PL |
| Foundation: | 5 September 1993 |
| Headquarters: | Chișinău, Moldova |
| National: | Mișcarea Politică Unirea |
| Website: | pl.md |
| Country: | Moldova |
| Native Name: | Partidul Liberal |
| Membership Year: | 2018 |
| Membership: | 18,989 |
| Position: | Centre-right |
| Regional: | Liberal South East European Network |
| Colours: | Light blue, yellow |
| Seats1 Title: | Parliament |
| Seats2 Title: | District Presidents |
| Youth Wing: | Young Liberals |
| Womens Wing: | Liberal Women's Organisation |
Liberal Party (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Partidul Liberal, PL) is a conservative-liberal[1] political party in Moldova. The president of the party is the former Mayor of Chișinău, Dorin Chirtoacă.
The party was established under the name Party of Reform (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Partidul Reformei) in 1993 by Anatol Șalaru.[2] In 1997, Mihai Ghimpu was elected chairman. Until April 2005, the party had a Christian-democratic electoral platform.[3] Competing in the 1994, 1998, and 2001 parliamentary elections, the Party of Reform failed to enter parliament, as its results of 2.36%, 0.54% and 0.67%, respectively, failed to meet the electoral threshold of 5%.
At the second party congress, held on 24 April 2005, party members adopted the new name Liberal Party (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Partidul Liberal),[2] along with a new logo and programme, which presented a liberal political platform. Mihai Ghimpu was elected president of the party. The party competed in the April 2009 parliamentary election, obtaining 13.13% of the vote and of 15 seats in parliament. At the parliamentary election of 2009 in July, the popular vote rose to 14.68%, again winning 15 seats.
As a consequence of the second parliamentary election of 2009, the party signed a coalition agreement with the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM), the Democratic Party (PDM), and Our Moldova Alliance (AMN), constituting the Alliance for European Integration.[4] The party was included in the First Filat Cabinet. At the 2010 parliamentary election, the party obtained 9.96% of the vote and 12 seats in parliament.[2] The party remained in the Second Filat Cabinet. The European Action Movement (MAE) merged into the party in March 2011.[5]
Under the leadership of Ghimpu, the party has altered its former Christian democratic orientation. On 25 January 2009, a Conference for the constitution of a Women's wing for the Liberal Party the "Liberal Women's Organisation" was held. The party also formed a youth wing the "Young Liberals". The party has joined the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) as an observer member.
At the 2014 parliamentary election, the Liberal Party received 9.7% of the vote, winning 13 seats. At the 2019 parliamentary election, the PL received 1.25% of the vote, losing its representation in parliament.
In February 2013, the party suffered an internal split. On 12 April 2013, the Liberal Party Reform Council was launched, with Ion Hadârcă as leader. The members of this council were called "Liberal Reformers" by the media. The internal split became permanent when a separate Liberal Reformist Party (PLR) joined the Pro-European Coalition, formed after the dissolution of the Alliance for European Integration (AIE), remaining in the Leancă Cabinet after the Liberal Party (PL) left the government.
In 2020, Mișcarea Politică Unirea (MPU), a political party established for the unification of Moldova and Romania, was founded by five other political parties, including the Liberal Party. Furthermore, Chirtoacă, leader of the PL,[6] [7] was designated as the candidate of the MPU for the 2020 Moldovan presidential election.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] He only received 1.2% of the cast votes and did not qualify for the 2nd round.
For the 2021 Moldovan parliamentary election, PL decided to compete along with PPR, USB, and AUR and managed to get 7,216 votes (0.49%), but failed to meet the 5% threshold.
| Election year |
| % of overall vote |
| +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 41,980 | 2.36 | |||
| 1998 | 8,844 | 0.54 | |||
| 2001 | 10,686 | 0.67 | |||
| 2005 | did not participate | ||||
| 2009 (April) | 201,879 | 13.13 | 15 | ||
| 2009 (July) | 232,108 | 14.68 | |||
| 2010 | 171,445 | 9.96 | 3 | ||
| 2014 | 154,507 | 9.67 | 1 | ||
| 2019 | 17,743 | 1.25 | 13 | ||
| 2021 | with PPR, USB, and AUR | ||||
In the 2007 local elections, the party gained 18.31% in Chișinău municipality and 11 seats on the Chișinău Municipal Council. Its vice-president, Dorin Chirtoacă, became Mayor.