{{Short description|Political party in Moldova}} {{Infobox political party | name = National Alternative Movement | native_name = Mișcarea Alternativa Națională | native_name_lang = | logo = Logo of the National Alternative Movement.svg | logo_size = 150 | colorcode = {{party color|National Alternative Movement}} | abbreviation = MAN | leader = Ion Ceban | founder = Ion Ceban | founded = {{Start date|2022|12|22|df=yes}} | registered = {{Start date|2023|1|17|df=yes}} | ideology = Social democracy<br>Pro-Europeanism (claimed; disputed)<ref name="Russophilia">{{cite news|url=https://ipn.md/en/parliamentary-elections-2025-and-the-european-perspective-of-the-republic-of-moldova-op-ed-by-anatol-taranu/|title=Parliamentary elections 2025 and the European perspective of the Republic of Moldova. Op-ed by Anatol Taranu|publisher=IPN Press Agency|date=4 April 2025|last=Țăranu|first=Anatol|author-link=Anatol Țăranu|quote=Although "Alternativa" presents itself as a pro-European force, multiple media sources and political analysts have raised questions about its true orientation, suggesting pro-Russian sympathies.}}</ref><ref name="Trojan">{{cite news|url=https://tvpworld.com/89082562/moldova-election-2025-us-retreat-europe-braces-for-test|title=Analysis: As US retreats, Europe braces for Moldova's make-or-break election|first=Stuart|last=Dowell|publisher=TVP World|date=23 September 2025|quote=Brussels and PAS both see Alternativa as a Trojan horse designed to stall accession talks from within.}}</ref><br/>Russophilia (alleged)<ref name="Russophilia"/> | headquarters = 23/7 Petru Movilă Street, Chișinău | membership = 4,248 | membership_year = 2025 | position = Centre-left | national = Alternative (2025–2026) | seats1_title = Parliament | seats1 = {{composition bar|3|101|{{party color|National Alternative Movement}}}} | seats2_title = District Presidents | seats2 = {{composition bar|0|32|{{party color|National Alternative Movement}}}} | website = {{URL|https://alternativa.eu/}} | country = Moldova | seats3 = {{composition bar|1|518|{{party color|National Alternative Movement}}}} | seats3_title = Mayors | leader1_name = Gaik Vartanean | leader1_title = Parliamentary group leader }}
The '''National Alternative Movement''' ({{Langx|ro|Mișcarea Alternativa Națională}}, '''MAN''') is a political party in Moldova. It was created at the end of December 2021. The party is led by Chișinău Mayor Ion Ceban.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Примар Ион Чебан запускает Национальное альтернативное движение {{!}} IPN<!-- Заголовок добавлен ботом --> |work=IPN |date=30 December 2021 |url=https://www.ipn.md/ru/primar-ion-cheban-zapuskaet-natsionalnoe-alternativnoe-dvizhenie-7965_1086887.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306173219/https://www.ipn.md/ru/primar-ion-cheban-zapuskaet-natsionalnoe-alternativnoe-dvizhenie-7965_1086887.html |archive-date=2022-03-06 |access-date=2022-03-06}}</ref>
The party is in opposition to the current government of the Republic of Moldova.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Primarul Capitalei, Ion Ceban, anunță că lansează o mișcare de alternativă la actuala guvernare<!-- Заголовок добавлен ботом --> |work=Radio Europa Liberă |url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/primarul-capitalei-ion-ceban-anun%C8%9B%C4%83-c%C4%83-lanseaz%C4%83-o-mi%C8%99care-de-alternativ%C4%83-la-actuala-guvernare/31633108.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306181144/https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/primarul-capitalei-ion-ceban-anun%C8%9B%C4%83-c%C4%83-lanseaz%C4%83-o-mi%C8%99care-de-alternativ%C4%83-la-actuala-guvernare/31633108.html |archive-date=2022-03-06 |access-date=2022-03-06}}</ref>
== Party history == In December 2021, Ceban announced the creation of the National Alternative Movement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ion Ceban, despre Mișcarea Alternativa Națională: Așa ceva nu ați mai văzut în Republica Moldova {{!}} TRIBUNA.MD<!-- Заголовок добавлен ботом --> |work=Tribuna |url=https://tribuna.md/2022/02/04/ion-ceban-despre-miscarea-alternativa-nationala-asa-ceva-nu-ati-mai-vazut-in-republica-moldova/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306182652/https://tribuna.md/2022/02/04/ion-ceban-despre-miscarea-alternativa-nationala-asa-ceva-nu-ati-mai-vazut-in-republica-moldova/ |archive-date=2022-03-06 |access-date=2022-03-06}}</ref> On 21 December 2022, the founding congress of the party was held.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 December 2022 |title=Была создана Партия Национальное альтернативное движение |work=IPN |url=https://www.ipn.md/ru/byla-sozdana-partiya-natsionalnoe-alternativnoe-dvizhenie-7965_1094205.html |archive-date=10 February 2023 |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210032833/https://www.ipn.md/ru/byla-sozdana-partiya-natsionalnoe-alternativnoe-dvizhenie-7965_1094205.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ceban officially announced the registration of the party on 17 January 2023.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
In 2022, the State Department of the United States added MAN to its sanction list over its ties to Russian authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-22 |title=Nyugdíjasdiszkó most vasárnap vagy EU-tagság öt év múlva? Ismerős orosz kampányba futottunk Moldovában a választás előtt |url=https://hvg.hu/360/20250922_moldova-valasztas-maia-sandu-matrjoska-orosz-befolyasolas |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=hvg.hu |language=hu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-27 |title=DECISION ON SANCTIONS AGAINST MOLDOVAN AND RUSSIAN CITIZENS ALSO MENTIONS PARTY OF CHISINAU MAYOR ION CEBAN |url=http://www.infotag.md/politics-en/302625/ |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Infotag.md}}</ref>
== Ideology == Ceban argues that the doctrine of the MAN party "is social democratic according to the European type", and the formation proposes to make European integration a national idea.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2023-01-17 |title=Partidul Mișcarea Alternativa Națională, condus de Ion Ceban, a fost înregistrat oficial |language=ro |work=Radio Europa Liberă |url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/partidul-mișcarea-alternativa-națională-condus-de-ion-ceban-a-fost-înregistrat-oficial-/32227186.html |access-date=2023-02-10}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-18 |title=Partidul Mișcarea Alternativa Națională a lui Ion Ceban a fost înregistrat la Agenția Servicii Publice |url=https://www.zdg.md/stiri/politic/partidul-miscarea-alternativa-nationala-a-lui-ion-ceban-a-fost-inregistrat-la-agentia-servicii-publice/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Ziarul de Gardă |language=ro-RO}}</ref> However, Alternative, to which MAN formerly belonged, has also been accused of harbouring pro-Russian viewpoints,<ref name="Russophilia"/> and is viewed by the European Union as "a Trojan horse designed to stall accession talks from within."<ref name="Trojan"/>
In his statement, made during Youth forum, Ceban condemned the Russo-Ukrainian War and the aggression of Russia, stating that Moldova stands with Ukraine and supports its territorial integrity and sovereignty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ion Ceban recunoaște Rusia ca "stat agresor": "Condamn războiul. Condamn agresiunea" |url=https://tv8.md/ru/2022/22/10/ion-ceban-recunoaste-rusia-ca-stat-agresor-condamn-razboiul-condamn-agresiunea/213372 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=tv8.md |language=en}}</ref>
== Electoral history == In these elections{{Which|date=September 2025}}, the MAN Party presented candidates mostly in the municipality of Chisinau. Thus, Ion Ceban has been nominated as a candidate for the position of Mayor General of Chisinau, together with a list of 57 candidates for the position of municipal councilors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-20 |title=Echipa MAN |url=https://alternativa.eu/echipa-man/# |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Partidul Mișcarea Alternativă Națională |language=ro-RO}}</ref> At the same time, 13 candidates were put forward for the position of mayors in the suburbs of Chisinau together with teams of advisers. In the other five suburbs, only teams of councilors were nominated, given that the MAN Party supported the current mayors, even if they were independent or nominated by other parties, arguing that they are professional mayors, good administrators who deserve and must run their town halls in continuation.
Thus, Ion Ceban won in the first round elections,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mayor Of Moldovan Capital Reelected In Blow To President's Pro-Western Party |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-mayoral-elections-ceban-chisinau-sandu-blow/32672825.html |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en}}</ref> for the first time in the history of Chisinau, with a score of 50.62% (132,803 votes)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-06 |title=Candidate of MAN Ion Ceban wins the second term as mayor of Chisinau |url=https://moldova1.md/p/19015/candidate-of-man-ion-ceban-wins-the-second-term-as-mayor-of-chisinau |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Moldova1 |language=en}}</ref> and the Party took the highest score in the Municipal Council, 33.25% (85,553 votes), entering the Municipal Council with 20 mandates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-06 |title=Ion Ceban: According to preliminary results, MAN won in Chisinau |url=https://www.ipn.md/en/ion-ceban-according-to-preliminary-results-man-won-in-chisinau-8012_1100622.html |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=IPN |language=en}}</ref> At the same time, MAN candidates were elected mayor from MAN in several localities in Chisinau, in Vatra and Colonița in the first round, in Cricova and Bubuieci in the second round.
== Election results == === Parliament === {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ |- ! rowspan="2" |Election ! rowspan="2" |Leader ! colspan="5" scope="col" |Performance ! rowspan="2" |Rank ! rowspan="2" |Government |- !Votes !% !± pp !Seats !+/– |- !rowspan="2" |2025 | rowspan="2" |Ion Ceban |rowspan="2" |125,706 |rowspan="2" |{{Percentage bar|7.96|hex=0D7B60}} (Alternative) |rowspan="2" bgcolor="lightgrey" |''New'' |rowspan="2" |{{composition bar|8|101|hex={{party color|National Alternative Movement}}}} |rowspan="2" bgcolor="lightgrey" |''New'' |rowspan="2" | 3rd |{{no2|Opposition}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Moldovan political parties}} Category:2022 establishments in Moldova Category:Political parties established in 2022 Category:Centre-left parties in Europe Category:Pro-European political parties in Moldova Category:Social democratic parties in Moldova Category:Russophilic parties in Moldova