Laws evolve, but gender stereotypes persist. According to the study of the “Center Partnership for Development” (CPD) "When tradition overshadows equality”, despite the gender quotas introduced in 2016 – which oblige political parties to include at least 40% women candidates on their lists, improving perceptions of women in politics – traditionalist attitudes have become stronger, especially among men. The study also shows an increase in the number of passive voters: in 2025 this group accounts for 51.9%, up by more than 12% compared to the previous parliamentary elections.

The study was developed under the project “Strengthening Democratic Resilience in Moldova”, implemented by UNDP Moldova in partnership with UN Women Moldova and funded by Norway, Canada, Sweden, and Denmark.

Key findings of the study:

1. The share of those who believe that women “have no place in politics” rose to 26.2% in 2025 (up 8 percentage points compared to 2021). Traditional expectations persist in society, according to which women should primarily take on family care and household responsibilities, while their involvement in politics is perceived as a deviation from these roles.
2. Gender stereotypes have become more pronounced especially among men, people with lower levels of education, and those living in rural areas. Among men, the share increased from 35.6% in 2021 to 46% in 2025, confirming that they remain the main bearers of traditionalist conceptions.
3. The analysis also highlights an alarming age-related trend: while the share of people aged 60+ who share gender stereotypes remains high (45.5%), stereotypes have grown significantly among young people aged 18–29, reaching 37.6% of respondents in 2025 (compared to 27.6% in 2021).
4. More than half of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova (51.9%) fall into the category of passive voters, i.e. people with little or no interest in the electoral campaign and election process. This figure increased by 12.4% compared to the previous parliamentary elections. From a democratic perspective, this phenomenon is problematic, as voter passivity can affect both the quality of public debate and the effective exercise of the right to vote.
5. The most disengaged from politics are young people, with more than 60% of those under 45 years old not getting involved, as well as voters with lower education and income levels. In contrast, the highest level of civic engagement is found among people aged 60+ (approx. 29% being active voters) and those with higher education (21% active).