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From Football Pitch to Parliament: Moldova Elects Former Conference League Player as Deputy
Chisinau, Moldova – Just two months after competing in the UEFA Europa Conference League, Maxim Poterniche has been elected to the Moldovan Parliament, marking a swift transition from professional footballer to politician. The former Petrocub Hincesti player’s election underscores a growing wave of new faces entering Moldovan politics following recent legislative elections won by the PAS party.
Poterniche, who contested the Conference League qualification rounds wiht petrocub in July, lost to Sabah FC of Azerbaijan in the second preliminary round. He played his final professional match on August 31st, swiftly pivoting to a career in public service. “I was not born political, nor did I dream of reaching Parliament,” Poterniche explained. “But in recent years, it has become unfeasible to watch calmly as lies, mediocrity, and misinformation contaminate people’s minds directly from the parliamentary podium.I don’t want to be left out anymore.”
The PAS party secured victory in Moldova’s legislative elections last Sunday, paving the way for Poterniche and other newly elected deputies to take their seats. His unexpected shift from the football field to the halls of parliament reflects a broader sentiment of citizens seeking change and a more engaged political landscape in Moldova.
