Party of Action and Solidarity
{{Short description|Pro-European political party in Moldova}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Party of Action and Solidarity
| native_name = Partidul Acțiune și Solidaritate
| native_name_lang = ro
| logo = Logo of the Party of Action and Solidarity.svg
| colorcode = {{party color|Party of Action and Solidarity}}
| abbreviation = PAS
| leader = Igor Grosu
| leader1_title =
| leader1_name =
| president =
| general_secretary =
| secretary_general = Artur Mija
| founder = Maia Sandu
| foundation = {{start date and age|2016|5|15|df=yes}}
| headquarters = Maria Cebotari 9/1, Chișinău
| membership_year = 2020
| membership = 15,500
| ideology = Liberalism
Anti-corruption
Pro-Europeanism
| position = Centre to centre-right
| youth_wing = PAS Youth
| european = European People's Party (associate)
| international = International Democracy Union{{Cite web|url=https://www.idu.org/members/|title=Members | International Democracy Union|date=1 February 2018}}
| slogan = E vremea oamenilor buni ('It is the time of the good people')
| colours = {{color box|{{party color|Party of Action and Solidarity}}|border=darkgray}} Yellow {{color box|#000000|border=darkgray}} Black
| seats1_title = Parliament
| seats1 = {{composition bar|61|101|hex={{party color|Party of Action and Solidarity}}}}
| seats2_title = District Presidents
| seats2 = {{composition bar|18|32|hex={{party color|Party of Action and Solidarity}}}}
| seats3_title = Mayors
| seats3 = {{composition bar|291|898|hex={{party color|Party of Action and Solidarity}}}}
| website = {{Official URL}}
| country = Moldova
}}
The Party of Action and Solidarity ({{langx|ro|Partidul Acțiune și Solidaritate}}, PAS) is a liberal political party in Moldova. The PAS was founded by Maia Sandu, the former Minister of Education and the incumbent president of Moldova. A pro-European party,{{Cite web|date=13 July 2021|title=Moldova pro-Europeans win resounding election victory|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/moldova-pro-europeans-win-resounding-election-victory/|access-date=20 October 2021|website=www.euractiv.com|language=en-GB}} it is an observer of the European People's Party (EPP){{cite web|url=https://www.epp.eu/parties-and-partners|title=Parties and partners|publisher=European People's Party|accessdate=20 October 2021}} and the International Democracy Union (IDU).{{cite web|url=https://www.idu.org/members/|title=Members|date=February 2018 |publisher=International Democracy Union|accessdate=20 October 2021}}
History
= Formation =
The party was created amid the 2015–2016 protests in Moldova and growing dissatisfaction with the ruling parties among citizens. On 23 December 2015, Maia Sandu posted a YouTube video in which she announced her intention to form a new political party. Her stated reason for doing so was the creation of a grassroots party, that would function based on the principles of internal democracy and would be financed through small donations.{{cite web|url= https://www.timpul.md/timpulmd/articol/%28tirea-zilei%29-maia-sandu-anuna-formarea-unei-micari-pentru-crearea-unui-nou-partid-politic-85126.html |title= (ȘTIREA ZILEI) Maia Sandu anunță formarea unei MIȘCĂRI pentru crearea unui nou partid politic |website=timpul.md |language=ro |date=23 December 2015 |access-date=7 December 2020}} Sandu was elected as leader of the PAS on 15 May 2016 and the party was officially registered by the Ministry of Justice on 26 May. At the time of registration, the party had 7,500 members and 20 local organizations.{{cite web |url=https://diez.md/2016/05/26/doc-partidul-actiune-si-solidaritatepas-a-fost-inregistrat-oficial-la-ministerul-justitiei/ |title= (doc) Partidul Acțiune și Solidaritate/PAS a fost înregistrat oficial la Ministerul Justiției |date=26 May 2016 |access-date=7 December 2020 |language=ro |website=diez.md}} In February 2017, the party applied for membership of the European People's Party (EPP).{{cite book|author=Olaf Wientzek|title=The European People's Party and the East: Party Cooperation in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WRTTDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA54|year=2019|publisher=Nomos Verlag|isbn=978-3-7489-0401-4|page=54}}
= In coalition government: June 2019 – November 2019 =
In the 2019 Moldovan parliamentary election, the PAS and the Dignity and Truth Platform Party formed the NOW Platform electoral alliance, which gathered 26.8% of the votes. After the alliance split into two separate parliamentary groups, the PAS ended up with 15 seats. On 6 June, the Party announced that it was ready to form a coalition government with the pro-Russian Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) with the goal of freeing state institutions, which in their opinion were under oligarchic control. After the coalition was formed, PSRM leader Zinaida Greceanîi was elected as Speaker of the Parliament and the Sandu Cabinet was inaugurated.{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/ro/distopie-politic%C4%83-la-chi%C8%99in%C4%83u-pas-accept%C4%83-colaborarea-cu-psrm/a-49082713 |title=Distopie politică la Chișinău. PAS acceptă colaborarea cu PSRM |website=dw.com |date=6 June 2019 |access-date=9 December 2020 |language=ro}} Largely because of the significant ideological differences between the ruling parties, the government only lasted for five months and was ousted on 12 November after the PSRM and the Democratic Party of Moldova voted in favor of a motion of no confidence.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-moldova-politics-government-idUSKBN1XO1KS |title=Moldovan parliament approves Ion Chicu as new prime minister |date=14 November 2019 |access-date=9 December 2020 |website=reuters.com}}
= In opposition: November 2019 – July 2021 =
After the ousting of the Sandu cabinet, the PAS was in opposition. In the 2020 Moldovan presidential election, the party's candidate and leader Sandu was elected as President of Moldova. According to Moldovan law, the president cannot be a member of a political party which resulted in Sandu resigning from the office of party president and renouncing her party membership. Until the next party congress, the post of PAS president is held by first vice president Igor Grosu on an interim basis.{{cite web |title=Maia Sandu leaves PAS |url=https://www.ipn.md/en/maia-sandu-leaves-pas-7965_1078293.html |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=30 December 2020 |website=ipn.md}}
= In majority government: July 2021 – present =
The PAS won by a landslide during the 2021 Moldovan parliamentary election, earning them 63 seats in the parliament. Igor Grosu was elected the President of the Moldovan Parliament.{{Cite web|date=29 June 2021|title=Igor Grosu, ales preşedinte al Parlamentului Republicii Moldova|url=https://adevarul.ro/moldova/politica/igor-grosu-ales-presedinte-parlamentului-republicii-moldova-1_61025c755163ec42718e8ae1/index.html|access-date=17 December 2021|website=adevarul.ro|language=en}} On 6 August 2021, Natalia Gavrilița was voted by 61 MPs as the Prime Minister of Moldova and she became the second PAS Prime Minister of Moldova, after Maia Sandu (2019).{{Cite web|title=Noul guvern pro-european de la Chișinău a trecut de votul Parlamentului. Republica Moldova este acum condusă de două femei|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/externe/noul-guvern-pro-european-de-la-chisinau-a-trecut-de-votul-parlamentului-republica-moldova-este-acum-condusa-de-doua-femei-1624943|access-date=17 December 2021|website=www.digi24.ro|language=ro}} In early 2022, the party will hold a leadership election and is also expected to nominate a candidate for the 2023 Chișinău mayoral elections.{{Cite web|date=19 November 2021|title=PAS şi Platforma DA, în pregătiri pentru alegeri|url=https://adevarul.ro/moldova/politica/pas-platforma-da-pregatiri-alegeri-1_619748985163ec4271b5e305/index.html|access-date=17 December 2021|website=adevarul.ro|language=en}}
Political positions
The PAS has been widely described as a pro-European,{{Cite web|date=2 November 2020|title=Pro-European Maia Sandu Wins First Round of Moldova Election|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/11/02/pro-european-maia-sandu-wins-first-round-of-moldova-election/|access-date=13 May 2021|website=Balkan Insight|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Tidey|first=Alice|date=16 November 2020|title=Moldova: Sandu is president, but the battle for power has only begun|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/16/moldova-pro-western-maia-sandu-won-the-presidency-but-the-battle-for-power-is-only-just-be|access-date=13 May 2021|website=euronews|language=en}} centrist{{Cite web |last=Felcher |first=Anastasia |title=Cultures of History Forum : The Divided Legacies of 9 May in Moldova |url=https://www.cultures-of-history.uni-jena.de/debates/moldova/the-divided-legacies-of-9-may-in-moldova |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=www.cultures-of-history.uni-jena.de |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=The Continental Review |url=https://geopolitique.eu/en/articles/the-continental-review-2/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Groupe d'études géopolitiques |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Tanas |first=Alexander |date=18 October 2024 |title=What to know about Moldova’s election and crucial vote on EU future |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/whats-stake-moldovas-election-and-referendum-oct-20-2024-10-18/ |work=Reuters}} or centre-right{{Cite web|date=28 April 2021|title=Moldovan leader dissolves parliament, sets July elections|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210428-moldovan-leader-dissolves-parliament-sets-july-elections|access-date=13 May 2021|website=France 24|language=en}}{{cite news|last=Tidey|first=Alice|date=16 November 2020|title=Moldova: Pro-western Maia Sandu won the presidency, but the battle for power is only just beginning|website=EuroNews|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/16/moldova-pro-western-maia-sandu-won-the-presidency-but-the-battle-for-power-is-only-just-be|access-date=13 May 2021}}{{cite news|last=Necșuțu|first=Mădălin|title=Pro-European Maia Sandu Wins First Round of Moldova Election|publisher=EuroNews|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/11/02/pro-european-maia-sandu-wins-first-round-of-moldova-election/|access-date=13 May 2021}} party that adheres to liberalism, social liberalism, and economic liberalism.{{cite web|title=Program-PAS|url=https://unpaspentru.md/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/PROGRAM_PAS_EN.pdf|access-date=6 November 2016|publisher=unpaspentru.md|archive-date=7 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107093022/https://unpaspentru.md/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/PROGRAM_PAS_EN.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|year=2019|title=Moldova|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/moldova.html|access-date=13 April 2019|website=Parties and Elections in Europe}}
= Economic policies =
According to its program, the PAS supports the idea of an economy "based on private initiative" and is in favor of a "significant reduction of bureaucracy in all stages of business".{{cite web |url=https://unpaspentru.md/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Party-of-Action-and-Solidarity-program.pdf |title=THE PROGRAM OF THE POLITICAL PARTY "ACTION AND SOLIDARITY PARTY" (PAS) |date=15 May 2016 |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=25 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625042805/https://unpaspentru.md/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Party-of-Action-and-Solidarity-program.pdf |url-status=dead }} In the 2020 Moldovan presidential election campaign, the party's candidate Maia Sandu proposed raising the minimum wage to 2,000 lei (around 114 US dollars).{{Cite web|title=Program|url=https://maiasandu2020.md/program/|access-date=16 November 2020|website=Maia Sandu Președinte 2020|language=ro-RO}}
= Foreign policy =
A member of the European People's Party (EPP),{{cite web|last1=Milheiro|first1=Karine|date=21 October 2016|title=EPP Presidency: Maia Sandu is the change Moldova needs (EN+RO)|url=https://www.epp.eu/press-releases/epp-presidency-maia-sandu-is-the-change-moldova-needs-enro/|access-date=13 May 2021|work=EPP}} the PAS supports membership of Moldova in the European Union,{{cite news|date=16 November 2020|title=Moldova election: Pro-EU candidate Maia Sandu wins presidency|work=BBC News|publisher=Politico|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54942847|access-date=16 May 2021}}{{cite web|date=16 November 2020|title=Pro-EU Sandu becomes Moldova's president|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/pro-eu-sandu-takes-moldova-presidency-in-landslide/|access-date=16 May 2021|publisher=Politico}} establishing a strategic partnership with the United States, and maintaining a normal and non-confrontational relationship with Russia. The party supports strengthening Moldova's relationship with Romania but does not explicitly endorse the unification of Moldova and Romania.{{cite web |url=https://unpaspentru.md/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Statut-PAS-August-2020.pdf |title=STATUTUL PARTIDULUI POLITIC "PARTIDUL ACŢIUNE ŞI SOLIDARITATE" (PAS) |language=ro |date=15 May 2016 |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115214559/https://unpaspentru.md/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Statut-PAS-August-2020.pdf |url-status=dead }}
Leadership
{{legend|#FFE100|Has been serving as the President of Moldova and also served as Prime Minister of Moldova|outline=silver}}{{legend|#FFF3AA|Also served as the President of the Moldovan Parliament|outline=silver}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="background:#ccc;"| Nº
! style="background:#ccc;"| Name ! style="background:#ccc;"| Image ! style="background:#ccc;"| Term start ! style="background:#ccc;"| Term end ! style="background:#ccc;"| Term length |
|---|
| align="center" style="background:#FFE100"
! 1 | 80px | 15 May 2016 | 10 December 2020 | {{nowrap|{{age in years, months and days|2016|5|15|2020|12|10}}}} |
| align="center" style="background:#FFF3AA"
!2 | 80px | 15 May 2022 | Incumbent | |
= Current leadership positions =
- Igor Grosu – President; President of the Parliament
- Artur Mija – Secretary General; Secretary General of the Government
- Mihai Popșoi – Vice President; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Vladimir Bolea – Vice President; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development
- Dan Perciun – Vice President; Minister of Education and Research
- Doina Gherman – Vice President; Vice President of the Parliament
- Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei – Vice President; MP
- Radu Marian – Vice President; MP
- Veronica Roșca – Vice President; MP
- Lilian Carp – Vice President; MP
- Larisa Voloh – Vice President; MP
- Sergiu Litvinenco – Vice President
- Adrian Băluțel – Vice President; Chief of Staff to the President of Moldova
- Virgiliu Pîslariuc – Vice President; MP
- Ina Coșeru – Vice President; MP
- Ion Groza – Vice President; MP
Election results
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Parliament |
| rowspan="2" |Election
! rowspan="2" |Leader ! colspan="5" scope="col" |Performance ! rowspan="2" |Rank ! rowspan="2" |Government |
|---|
| Votes
!% !± pp !Seats !+/– |
| rowspan="2" |2019
| rowspan="2" |Maia Sandu |rowspan="2" |380,181 |rowspan="2" |{{Percentage bar|26.84|hex=FFDD00}}(ACUM){{efn|NOW Platform DA and PAS won 26 seats of which 15 went to the PAS and 11 to the PPDA.}} |rowspan="2" bgcolor="lightgrey" |New |rowspan="2" |{{composition bar|15|101|hex={{party color|Party of Action and Solidarity}}}} |rowspan="2" bgcolor="lightgrey" |New |rowspan="2" | 3rd |{{yes2|Coalition (ACUM (PAS–PPDA)–PSRM) majority government (2019)}} |
| {{no2|Opposition to PSRM–PDM government (2019–2021)}} |
| 2021
|774,754 |{{Percentage bar|52.80|hex=FFDD00}} |{{increase}} 25.96 |{{composition bar|63|101|hex={{party color|Party of Action and Solidarity}}}} |{{increase}} 48 | 1st | {{yes2|Supermajority government}} |
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |
| rowspan="2" |Election
! rowspan="2" |Candidate ! colspan="2" scope="col" |First round ! colspan="2" |Second round ! rowspan="2" |Result |
|---|
| Votes
!% !Votes !% |
| 2016
|{{no2|Maia Sandu}} |549,152 |{{Percentage bar|38.71|hex=FFDE00}} |766,593 |{{Percentage bar|47.89|hex=FFDE00}} |Lost {{Nay}} |
| 2020
|{{yes2|Maia Sandu}} |487,635 |{{Percentage bar|36.16|hex=FFDE00}} |943,006 |{{Percentage bar|57.72|hex=FFDE00}} |Elected {{Y}} |
| 2024
|{{yes2|Supported Maia Sandu{{efn|name=Sandu|The President of Moldova traditionally resigns from party membership after taking office. Although Sandu was officially an independent candidate, her campaign was endorsed, supported, and funded by the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS).}}}} |656,852 |{{Percentage bar|42.49|hex=FFDE00}} |930,139 |{{Percentage bar|55.35|hex=FFDE00}} |Elected {{Y}} |
= Chișinău mayoral elections =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |Election ! rowspan="2" |Leader ! rowspan="2" |Candidate ! colspan="2" |First round ! colspan="2" |Second round ! rowspan="2" |Result |
| Votes
!% !Votes !% |
|---|
| 2018
| rowspan="2" |Maia Sandu | rowspan="2" |Andrei Năstase | align="right" |71,803 | align="right" |32.12 | align="right" |129,432 | align="right" |52.57 |Elected {{Y}} |
| 2019
| align="right" |70,056 | align="right" |31.08 | align="right" |112,514 | align="right" |47.61 |Lost {{Nay}} |
| 2023
| 74,074 | 28.23 | {{NA}} | {{NA}} |Lost {{Nay}} |
= Chișinău Municipal Council elections =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |Election ! rowspan="2" |Leader ! colspan="2" |Votes !Seats ! rowspan="2" |Position |
| Votes
!% !No. |
|---|
| 2019
| align="right" |74,255 | align="right" |33.30 |{{Composition bar|19|51|hex=#FFDE00}}(ACUM) |2nd |
| 2023
| align="right" |84,615 | align="right" |32.88 |{{Composition bar|20|51|hex=#FFDE00}} |2nd |
{{notelist}}
= Local elections =
== Mayors ==
| class="wikitable" |
| Election year
!Mayors !% of !No. of !+/– |
|---|
| 2023
| 291 | 32.51 |{{Composition bar|291|898|hex=#FFDE00}} |bgcolor="lightgrey"| |