Șor Party Explained

ȘOR Party
Native Name:Partidul „ȘOR”
Native Name Lang:ro
Abbreviation:ȘOR
President:Ilan Shor
General Secretary:Maria Albot
Leader1 Title:Vice President
Leader1 Name:Marina Tauber
Leader3 Title:Founder and Honorary President
Foundation: (as Socio-Political Movement "Equality")
(as Șor Party)
Banned:19 June 2023
Successor:Chance (de facto)
Revival (de facto)[1]
Headquarters:Vasile Lupu 36, Orhei
Membership Year:2019
Membership:52,464
National:Chance. Duties. Realization
Victory
European:European Conservatives and Reformists Party (2018–2022)
Colours: Green
Slogan:"Change for Moldova" (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Schimbare pentru Moldova)
Country:Moldova

The ȘOR Party (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Partidul „ȘOR”,) was a populist political party in Moldova.[2] Known from its foundation in 1998 until October 2016 as the Socio-Political Movement "Equality" (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Mișcarea social-politică „Ravnopravie”),[3] [4] the party holds Eurosceptic and Russophilic stances.[5]

On 19 June 2023, the Șor Party was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Moldova and has been banned ever since.

History

The party was founded in 1998 by Moldovan politician Valerii Klimenco as the "Socio-Political Movement 'Equality'".[6] At the 2005 Moldovan parliamentary election, the party won 2.8% of the popular vote but no seats. The party intended to participate to the 2014 Moldovan parliamentary election but later withdrew its list.[7]

In 2015, the party decided to nominate Ilan Shor for Mayor of the town of Orhei. Shor, who was at that point in time under house arrest,[8] won a majority of the votes in the first round of the election and subsequently became the leading figure within the party.[6] In October 2016, Shor was elected president of the party, which was renamed Șor Party. In June 2017, the party President, Ilan Shor was sentenced to 7.5 years in jail for fraud. He broke house arrest and fled the country in 2019 whilst appealing the sentence.[9] On 1 December 2018, the party joined the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe.[10]

In December 2018, the party created a model collective farm based on its own election programme in the Orhei region, dubbing it the "Commune of Dreams".[11] [12] [13]

At the 2019 Moldovan parliamentary election, the party won 8.32% of votes and received seven parliamentary mandates, entering parliament for the first time in its history.[14] [15] The party organized a Victory Day parade in Chișinău on 9 May 2019.[16]

2022–2023 protests

See main article: 2022–2023 Moldovan protests.

The Șor Party was the main instigator of the 2022–2023 Moldovan protests.[17]

Investigations into the party

On 8 November 2022, the Moldovan government requested the constitutional court to initiate proceedings for the outlawing of the party in Moldova, due to it allegedly promoting the interests of a foreign state (Russia) and harming the independence and sovereignty of the country.[18] [19]

On 13 April 2023, the appeal court doubled the sentence of party President Ilan Shor in a case linked to the theft of $1 billion in bank assets as well as money laundering, breach of trust, and fraud to 15 years in prison in absentia and froze his assets. Shor was living in Israel at the time of the court ruling after having fled Moldova in 2019.[20] On 27 April 2023 a plenary session of the parliament voted to revoke Shor's parliamentary mandate. Shor appealed the decision to the Constitutional court but lost he appeal on 5 May 2023.

On 1 May 2023, the party's Vice President, Marina Tauber, was detained at the Chișinău International Airport while trying to leave the country for Israel via Turkey. She was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office on charges of illegally funding the party.[21] [22]

In May 2023 an investigation was launched into a suspected case of bribery of voters by the Șor Party during the 2023 Gagauz gubernatorial election.[23]

Controversies

On 19 June 2023, the Șor Party was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Moldova.[24] [25] [26] Șor declared that the party will continue its activity and that it will contest in the next elections.[27] Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman of the Russian foreign ministry, said that the decision to declare the Sor Party unconstitutional contravened democratic principles.[28] The court chairman Nicolae Roșca cited "an article in the constitution stating that parties must through their activities uphold political pluralism, the rule of law and the territorial integrity of Moldova."[29] The current six serving MP's of the Șor Party being allowed to continue as independents.

On 31 July, the Moldovan parliament voted in favour of banning the leaders of the dissolved Șor Party – including Ilan Shor – from standing in elections for a period of five years.[30] In October the Constitutional Court of Moldova ruled that Article 16 of the Electoral Code is unconstitutional and that former members of the Șor Party can stand for elections.[31]

In August 2023 a clone party, called “ȘANSĂ” or Chance party, led by journalist Alexei Lungu was established.[32] “ȘANSĂ” was deregistered as a political party two days before the local elections in November amid claims of using illegal funds from Russia.[33]

This ruling was reversed in March 2024 by the Moldovan Supreme Court. Maia Sandu said she would "respect the ruling, but continue trying to ban its leaders."[34]

Sanctions

On 26 October 2022, the Șor Party was sanctioned by the United States Department of Treasury over the association with Ilan Shor, who is also sanctioned.[35]

Ideology

Party's 2019 programme introduced the following points:[36]

The opening paragraphs of the party's 2008 election programme stated that it viewed the average person's quality of life as superior under the Soviet Union when compared to modern times. It further stated that it viewed Moldova's alleged socio-economic problems as relating to Moldova's negative relationship with the Russian Federation.[37] As of 2021, the party supported moving the capital to Orhei.[38]

Leadership

In June 2023

Electoral results

Parliament

ElectionLeaderVotes%± ppSeats+/–RankStatus
2001Valerii Klimenko7,023––16th
200544,129 2.39 0 6th
2009 (April)did not contest
2009 (July)did not contest
20101,781 0.10 0 17th
2014did not contest
2019Ilan Shor117,779 8.32 7 4th (until November 2019)
202184,185 2.57 1 4th

Presidency

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: В Молдове суд признал неконституционной пророссийскую партию "Шор". Объясняем, почему это произошло и что будет дальше. 19 June 2023. Настоящее Время.
  2. Web site: Programele electorale înaintea parlamentarelor din Republica Moldova: între promisiuni și populism. 2021-10-20. www.veridica.ro. 14 June 2021 . ro. 20 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020024430/https://www.veridica.ro/ro/analize/programele-electorale-inaintea-parlamentarelor-din-republica-moldova-intre-promisiuni-si-populism. live.
  3. Web site: Partidul "Şor" (PŞ) / Partide.md .
  4. News: Mișcarea "Ravnopravie" (MR) . Radio Europa Liberă . 3 November 2014 . Gherasim . Mihaela .
  5. Web site: Moldova. Parties and Elections in Europe. 2019. 13 April 2019. Wolfram. Nordsieck. 1 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401030807/http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/moldova.html. live.
  6. Web site: История партии - Partidul Şor. partidulsor.md. 2019-06-24. 17 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190617082851/http://partidulsor.md/ru/partid/istoria-partidului.html. live.
  7. Web site: Archived copy. a.cec.md. 2019-03-19. 8 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908045528/https://a.cec.md/index.php?pag=news&id=1042&rid=12235&l=ro. live.
  8. News: Moldova set for coalition talks after inconclusive election. 2019-02-25. Reuters. 2019-06-29. en. 29 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190629115151/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-moldova-election-results-idUSKCN1QE11O. live.
  9. Web site: Moldova court doubles prison sentence of pro-Russia politician hiding in Israel . 14 April 2023.
  10. Web site: Our Family Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE). ACRE. 2019-06-28. 1 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190801150100/https://www.acreurope.eu/our_family. live.
  11. Web site: https://www.moldova.org/ru/%d1%80%d0%be%d1%81%d1%81%d0%b8%d0%b9%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b8%d0%b9-%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%bb%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%be%d0%bb%d0%be%d0%b3-%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%82%d0%b8%d1%8f-%d1%88%d0%be%d1%80-%d0%b1%d1%83%d0%b4%d0%b5/. ru:Российский политолог: Партия ШОР будет способствовать восстановлению отношений с Россией. 2018-02-23. Молдова.орг. ru-RU. 2019-06-09.
  12. Web site: "Коммуна мечты": Партия ШОР восстановила колхоз в коммуне Жора де Мижлок. правды». Комсомольская правда Сайт «Комсомольской. 2018-12-20. KP.MD - сайт «Комсомольской правды». ru. 2019-06-09. 9 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190609113722/https://www.kp.md/daily/26923.4/3970206/. live.
  13. Web site: https://point.md/ru/novosti/politika/partiia--34-shor-34-vosstanovila-kolkhoz-v-kommune-zhora-de-mizhlok. ru:Партия "Шор" восстановила колхоз в коммуне Жора де Мижлок. Point.md. ru. 2019-06-09. 9 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190609113720/https://point.md/ru/novosti/politika/partiia--34-shor-34-vosstanovila-kolkhoz-v-kommune-zhora-de-mizhlok. live.
  14. Web site: cu privire la totalizarea rezultatelor alegerilor Parlamentului Republicii Moldova în circumscripția națională și circumscripțiile uninominale din 24 februarie 2019. 2019-03-03. a.cec.md. ro. 2019-06-28. 13 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190713152309/https://a.cec.md/ro/cu-privire-la-totalizarea-rezultatelor-alegerilor-parlamentului-republicii-moldo-2751_92705.html. live.
  15. Web site: Moldovan parliamentary election. 2019-02-28. IHS Markit. 2019-06-29. 29 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190629115147/https://ihsmarkit.com/research-analysis/moldovan-parliamentary-election.html. live.
  16. Web site: Партия "ШОР" организует марш Победы 9 Мая - Partidul Şor. partidulsor.md. 2019-06-09. 9 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190609114330/http://partidulsor.md/ru/news/partiya-%25E2%2580%259Cshor%25E2%2580%259D-organizuet-marsh-pobedyi-9-maya.html. live.
  17. Web site: FOTO/ Un nou protest organizat de Partidul Șor. Țurcanu: "Solicităm de urgență ca Ivan Ceban să lase odihna și să vină în fața poporului, de altfel este mână-n mână cu Maia Sandu". Otilia. Meica. October 16, 2022.
  18. Web site: Călugăreanu . Vitalie . 8 November 2022 . Ministrul Justiției declanșează mecanismul de interzicere a partidului "Șor" . The Minister of Justice triggers the mechanism to ban the "Șor" party . 2022-11-09 . . ro-RO.
  19. Web site: 8 November 2022 . Последний аккорд оппозиции: Минюст Молдавии инициировал запрет партии «Шор» . The last chord of the opposition: the Ministry of Justice of Moldova initiated a ban on the Șor party . 2022-11-09 . EurAsia Daily . ru.
  20. News: Moldovan Court Increases Fugitive Shor's Prison Sentence To 15 Years. RFE/RL's Moldovan. Service. Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty .
  21. Web site: Moldova opposition party vice-chair detained at Chisinau airport . . 1 May 2023.
  22. News: Moldovan Prosecutors Say Top Official With Pro-Russian Political Party Detained At Airport . . 1 May 2023.
  23. Web site: Moldovan Prosecutors Raid Pro-Russian Shor Party in Gagauzia . 8 May 2023.
  24. Web site: Partidul ȘOR, scos în afara legii de Curtea Constituțională de la Chișinău. Formațiunea oligarhului fugar ar fi pus la cale o lovitură de stat . 2023-06-19 . Ziare.com . ro.
  25. Web site: 2023-06-19 . Ultima oră! Partidul Șor, declarat neconstituțional de Înalta Curte . 2023-06-19 . UNIMEDIA . ro.
  26. Web site: 2023-06-19 . Partidul ȘOR, declarat neconstituțional / Maia Sandu: Moldovenii vor să trăiască într-un stat de drept, unde organizațiile criminale nu sunt protejate, ci împiedicate să captureze statul . 2023-06-19 . G4 Media . ro-RO.
  27. Web site: Ilan Şor o amenință pe Maia Sandu după ce partidul său a fost scos în afara legii. "Îți recomand să-ți faci bagajele" . 19 June 2023 .
  28. Web site: Prima reacție a Moscovei după ce partidul prorus "Șor" a fost scos în afara legii: Urmează o regină română a întregii Moldove? . 19 June 2023 .
  29. News: Tanas . Alexander . 2023-06-19 . Moldova bans pro-Russian Shor party after months of protests . en . . 2023-07-05.
  30. News: Service . RFE/RL's Moldovan . 2023-07-31 . Moldovan Parliament Bans Leaders Of Dissolved Russia-Backed Party From Elections . en . RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty . 2023-08-01.
  31. Web site: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ALOWS FORMER ŞOR PARTY MEMBERS TO RUN IN ELECTIONS . 4 October 2023.
  32. Web site: "ȘANSA" lui Șor s-a mutat în sediul lui Plahotniuc. Un nou partid clonă al oligarhilor fugari . 8 August 2023.
  33. Web site: Moldova's 'Chance' Party Stumbles as Local Elections Approach; Customs Service Strengthens International Ties . 3 November 2023.
  34. Web site: Moldovan court strikes down law barring pro-Russian party from polls . . 2024-04-05.
  35. Web site: 26 October 2022. Treasury Targets Corruption and the Kremlin's Malign Influence Operations in Moldova. State.gov.
  36. Web site: Политическая программа Партии ШОР - Partidul Şor. partidulsor.md. 2019-02-28. 1 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074637/http://partidulsor.md/ru/program.html. live.
  37. Web site: Programul mișcării Ravnopravie. E-Democracy. 16 April 2018. 19 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170519000451/http://www.e-democracy.md/files/parties/mrr-program-2008-ro.pdf. live.
  38. Web site: Ilan Șor: Orheiul – să devina capitala Republicii Moldova și o perlă a Europei - Partidul Şor. 2021-10-20. partidulsor.md. 30 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210830080611/http://partidulsor.md/news/ilan-sor-orheiul-%E2%80%93-sa-devina-capitala-republicii-moldova-%C8%99i-o-perla-a-europei.html. live.

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