History of DPM

The political identity of the Democratic Party of Moldova is expressed, in particular, through its doctrine based on the convergence in social-democratic ideas of modern Europe, through its conception of the transition and the model of society it proposes to the Republic of Moldova, through the value system it promotes and through its political action.
The Democratic Party of Moldova (DPM) is a modern, progressive, European centre-left party, carrying out its activity according to the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, the legislation in force and the DPM Statute.
The DPM’s doctrine is based on the principles of social democracy. It has the following core values: Equality, so that all individuals can realize their potential on fair terms; Solidarity, so that all people have everything they need for a decent standard of living and Freedom, so that each individual can build his/her own personal life project.
The DPM is a modern, European-oriented party, open to innovative ideas, a party that advocates the country’s modernization and social development, being a strong promoter of democracy and economic reform.
Our doctrine has been confirmed by the admission to the Socialist International, through DPM’s good relations with the Party of European Socialists and sister parties from a number of European countries.
The DPM has the great advantage of being a party with the largest number of competent and politically active people. The DPM is a family of citizens of the Republic of Moldova, combining competence, responsibility, internal democracy, enthusiasm of young people and self-possession of experienced people.
The Democratic Party advocates the unification of all centre-left political forces that share democracy and reforms. The experience that we have gained in Parliament throughout the past years has shown that only by joint efforts, by mutual compromise, by seeking and finding optimal solutions, we have the opportunity, shoulder to shoulder, to implement a joint programme for promoting democratic values, transforming the Republic of Moldova into a prosperous country, which will become a factor of stability in Southeast Europe.
In the next years, the DPM team within the Parliament has been strengthened, with the ideas and visions of the party being shared by a group of deputies who became part of the DPM fraction. Currently, the DPM has 40 deputies in Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. The faction of the party is led by Marian Lupu. Democrat Andrian Candu holds the position of Chairman of the Parliament.

Core values of the DPM
The Democratic Party of Moldova promotes and supports the democratic and social rule of law, with a market economy based on free and fair competition, where human dignity, rights and freedoms of citizens, free development of personality, social justice and political pluralism are supreme values.
The DPM promotes equality between people, whereby all citizens have equal opportunities to build their future or to influence the society they live in. Equality does not mean, however, uniformity. The DPM recognizes the right of citizens to personal development and to the different options, considering diversity as the basis of equality between people.
The DPM is committed to building a society based on solidarity, cooperation, mutual help and respect among people. The success of society lies in the joint efforts of all its members and not in the effort of a small group of people, or of the elite.
The DPM defends freedom of the individual, his/her ability to control his/her own life and to participate in the decision-making in society. The DPM seeks to maintain balance between the personal interest and the interest of society so that freedom of all citizens is respected.
For the DPM, equality, solidarity and freedom are indissoluble values. A genuinely fair society is a society where all citizens are free and showing solidarity. The DPM advocates a society that ensures freedom of citizens and assumes social responsibilities, creating conditions for a life worthy of its citizens!

From the history of the DPM
The party was established in February 1997, initially known as the Movement for a Democratic and Prosperous Moldova. In parliamentary elections of March 1998, the electoral bloc formed on the basis of the Movement – the Bloc for a Democratic and Prosperous Moldova – won over 18% of the votes and 24 seats in Parliament respectively, which allowed it to participate in governance, within the Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (ADR). From 1997 until the summer of 2009, the party was led by Dumitru Diacov, who, within 1997-2001, held the position of Chairman of Parliament.
In parliamentary elections of February 2001, the DPM failed to overcome the 6% electoral threshold and, as an extra-parliamentary party, opposed the communist regime. In the 2003 local elections, the party won over 8% of the votes and took good positions in local public administrations, regaining the status of one of the most influential political parties in the country. In the 2005 parliamentary elections, the DPM participated in the Democratic Moldova Bloc, which gained 34 deputy’s seats.
The intention of the Democratic Moldova leadership to create a tense political situation in the country, to disintegrate the Moldovan society and the political class made the DPM leave the Bloc and establish its own parliamentary faction consisting of 8 deputies. The 2007 local elections once again demonstrated the increase of the DPM’s weight, the party strengthening its positions in the local public administration.
In February 2008, the DPM joined the Social Liberal Party, due to the fact that both parties are committed to principles and ideas of modern European social democracy, promoting democracy with a view to activate the processes of European integration of the Republic of Moldova.
In parliamentary elections in the spring of 2009, the radicalization and the sudden polarization of the Moldovan society diminished the voters’ interest in centrist principles and values, shared by the DPM, and led to a provisional failure of the party in the elections of April 5. Since June 2009, however, the party’s positions and electoral potential started growing quickly, at a time when there were preparations for a new election campaign. This is due to the arrival in the DPM of a strong and energetic team, formed around the new leader of the party, Marian Lupu, who, within 2005-2009, held the position of Chairman of Parliament. The situation was also affected by the ideas, constantly promoted by the DPM, namely political balance and social reconciliation, which are increasingly popular in society after the tragic events of 7 April.
As a result, in the 29 July elections, the DPM succeeded, winning 12.54% of the votes, and became one of the strongest parliamentary parties.
Following the early parliamentary elections of 28 November2010, the DPM won 12.70% and formed the pro-European governing coalition.
Following the parliamentary elections of 30 November 2014, the DPM won 15.8% and formed the pro-European governing coalition, having 20 deputies in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.

Organization and team of the DPM
The DPM’s National Political Council is the governing body of the party during the period between two Congresses. The meeting of the National Political Council is convened at least twice a year by the Chairman of the DPM or at the request of at least 1/3 of the members of the National Political Council. The DPM’s National Political Council is elected by the Congress for a term of 4 (four) years, the numerical composition being determined by the DPM’s Congress decision.
The DPM’s Executive Board is the decision-making executive body of the DPM, which coordinates the activity of the latter during the period between meetings of the National Political Council. The Executive Board is elected for a term of 4 (four) and composed of 31 members.
The Permanent Bureau is the body that carries out an operational analysis and synthesis of the activity of the party during the period between meetings of the National Political Council and the Executive Board and is convened weekly or when necessary, at the request of Chairman of the DPM. The Chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova is Vlad Plahotniuc, the honorary chairman – Dumitru Diacov, the first vice chairman – Pavel Filip, the vice chairmen of the party are Andrian Candu, Vladimir Cebotari, Sergiu Sirbu, Violeta Ivanov, Cristina Balan, Vladimir Vitiuc, Alexandru Cauia, Valentina Buliga, Valentina Stratan, Serghei Iaralov, Alexandru Botnari and Eleonora Graur.
The Democratic Party of Moldova is a political party of a new type, both for Moldova and for the entire post-Soviet space, based on European principles that exclude rigid centrism, but support the initiative, the opinions and will of party structures of all levels and all party members.
The DPM includes Women Organization, Democratic Youth, „Treasure of the Nation” Elderly People Organization, and local elected officials. The Women Organization is the most powerful, active and representative party organization of women in Moldova.

The slogan of the Democratic Party of Moldova is: „We are developing Moldova!”