Moldova: Election maths
Preliminary Analysis of last Wednesday's Moldovan election highlights some of the issues with the D'Hondt System particularity when it involves a representation threshold.
Comparison between the April election and the July election shows a consolidation of votes with fewer minor parties running for election. In April there were 12 parties plus independents. In July only 8 parties contested the election with The Green party being the only new constant.
The consolidation of the vote and reduction in the number of disenfranchised voters has a significant effect on the outcome of the election.
In April, Four political parties received sufficient votes to cross the 7% representative threshold, together they represented 84.8% of the total vote. The other minor parties collectively represented the balance of 15.2%
In July, Five political parties representing 95.8% crossed the new representation threshold of 5% and 4.2% were denied representation - a shift of 11%
Statistically in a re-run election the ruling party loses 4% to 6% of the vote. Moldova was no exception. However the ruling party suffered a 12 seat loss.
The ruling Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova (CPRM) suffered a swing of 4.79%. In April they received 49.48% of the vote and in July 44.69%. This translated into 60 seats in the April election and only 48 seats in July.
The reason for the dramatic loss in representation was not so much as the 4.79% swing but more to do with the percentage of parties that crossed the threshold. In April the CPRM benefited from minor opposition parties low vote.
The representation threshold distorts the proportionality of the number of seats to the percentage of votes. The less the percentage of disenfranchised voters the more accurate reflection of the electorate in the overall results.
In Moldova the political parties and or voters realised that they needed to consolidate their support base in order to win representation.
The Swings and shifts of support
The Communist Party of Moldova lost 4.79% which was translated into a loss of 12 seats mainly because three additional parties - Democratic Party of Moldova, Christian Democratic People’s Party, Social Democratic Party (representing a total of 9.7% in April) crossed the 7% representation threshold. In April their votes were wasted in July they counted.
The biggest gain was the Democratic Party of Moldova (+9.57%) followed by Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (+4.14%)
“Moldova Noastra (Our Moldova)” Alliance recorded a swing of -2.42% against them as did the Christian Democratic People’s Party (-1.79%) and the Social Democratic Party (-1.18%)
Comparison between the April election and the July election shows a consolidation of votes with fewer minor parties running for election. In April there were 12 parties plus independents. In July only 8 parties contested the election with The Green party being the only new constant.
The consolidation of the vote and reduction in the number of disenfranchised voters has a significant effect on the outcome of the election.
In April, Four political parties received sufficient votes to cross the 7% representative threshold, together they represented 84.8% of the total vote. The other minor parties collectively represented the balance of 15.2%
In July, Five political parties representing 95.8% crossed the new representation threshold of 5% and 4.2% were denied representation - a shift of 11%
Statistically in a re-run election the ruling party loses 4% to 6% of the vote. Moldova was no exception. However the ruling party suffered a 12 seat loss.
The ruling Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova (CPRM) suffered a swing of 4.79%. In April they received 49.48% of the vote and in July 44.69%. This translated into 60 seats in the April election and only 48 seats in July.
The reason for the dramatic loss in representation was not so much as the 4.79% swing but more to do with the percentage of parties that crossed the threshold. In April the CPRM benefited from minor opposition parties low vote.
The representation threshold distorts the proportionality of the number of seats to the percentage of votes. The less the percentage of disenfranchised voters the more accurate reflection of the electorate in the overall results.
In Moldova the political parties and or voters realised that they needed to consolidate their support base in order to win representation.
The Swings and shifts of support
The Communist Party of Moldova lost 4.79% which was translated into a loss of 12 seats mainly because three additional parties - Democratic Party of Moldova, Christian Democratic People’s Party, Social Democratic Party (representing a total of 9.7% in April) crossed the 7% representation threshold. In April their votes were wasted in July they counted.
The biggest gain was the Democratic Party of Moldova (+9.57%) followed by Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (+4.14%)
“Moldova Noastra (Our Moldova)” Alliance recorded a swing of -2.42% against them as did the Christian Democratic People’s Party (-1.79%) and the Social Democratic Party (-1.18%)
| July 2009 | % Vote | Swing | Seats | % seats |
| Communists Party | 44.69% | -4.79% | 48 | 47.52% |
| Liberal Democratic Party | 16.57% | 4.14% | 18 | 17.82% |
| Liberal Party | 14.68% | 1.55% | 15 | 14.85% |
| Democratic Party | 12.54% | 9.57% | 13 | 12.87% |
| Our Moldova Alliance | 7.35% | -2.42% | 7 | 6.93% |
| Christian Democratic People’s Party | 1.91% | -1.79% | 0 | |
| Social Democratic Party | 1.86% | -1.18% | 0 | |
| Green Alliance | 0.41% | 0.41% | 0 | |
| 100.00% | 101 |
| April 2009 | % Vote | Seats | % seats | |
| Communists Party | 49.48% | 60 | 59.41% | |
| Liberal Democratic Party | 12.43% | 15 | 14.85% | |
| Liberal Party | 13.13% | 15 | 14.85% | |
| Democratic Party | 2.97% | |||
| Our Moldova Alliance | 9.77% | 11 | 10.89% | |
| Christian Democratic People’s Party | 3.70% | |||
| Social Democratic Party | 3.04% | |||
| Centrist Union | 2.75% | |||
| Social-Political Movement | 1.01% | |||
| Conservative Party | 0.29% | |||
| United Moldova | 0.22% | |||
| Republican Party | 0.09% | |||
| Independents | 1.12% | |||
| 100.00% | 101 |
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