Moldova: Fall of Government Threatens Return to Political Gridlock

Moldova is in a state of political paralysis after parliament passed a vote of no confidence against the government of Prime Minister Vlad Filat on March 5. The country is familiar with political deadlock, having held three inconclusive elections between 2009 and 2012 and having had no official president during that time. While Russia will look to take advantage of the collapse of Filat's Western-oriented Alliance for European Integration coalition, Moldova's chronic political deadlock will preclude any significant shifts in the country's foreign policy.