The VIIIth Congress was called after the decisions adopted at the meeting of the DPM's Political Council held on 10 December 2016 when the party leader, Mr. Marian Lupu, announced his resignation from the PDM's chairman position. The main task of the VIIIth Congress was the election of new leadership, adoption of new changes in the party's statute and streamlining new modernization objectives of the party. The businessman, Mr. Vlad Plahotniuc was elected for the position of the DPM chairman and he gained unanimous supportive votes of delegates at the congress. Vlad Plahotniuc said that he would focus on the modernization of the political party, to become a party that promotes citizens' interests rather than geopolitical ones. The congress delegates also elected Mr. Pavel Filip as first deputy chairman of the PDM, voted the list of the new National Political Council and adopted the new edition of the Party Statute. According to the organizers, about 1000 delegates from all the districts of the country and guests from abroad participated in the congress. On 10 March 2017, the 14 former Communist MPs who formed SDPM "Social Democratic Platform for Moldova" joined the parliamentary faction of the Democratic Party of Moldova. Democratic faction leader, Mr. Marian Lupu said at the press briefing that the decision of the 14 MPS “is a step that will lead to the strengthening of the parliamentary majority”, thus, the DPM become largest political group in the Parliament. In the 2019 parliamentary election, the DPM received 23.6% of the vote, gaining 30 seats in parliament, making it the second largest party in Moldova. The party moved into opposition to the new Sandu Cabinet (formed by PSRM, PAS and DA). However, in November 2019 Sandu was removed by the Parliament of Moldova through a motion of no confidence and PD and PSRM formed a new coalition government. The DPM's doctrine is based on the principles of social democracy. It has the following core values: Equality, so that all individuals can realize their potential on fair terms; Solidarity, so that all people have everything they need for a decent standard of living; and Freedom, so that each individual can build his/her own personal life project. The logo of the Democratic Party of Moldova is composed of three roses growing from a stem, crowned with a semicircle. The DPM's National Political Council is the governing body of the party during the period between two congresses. The meeting of the National Political Council is convened at least twice a year by the Chairman of the DPM or at the request of at least 1/3 of the members of the National Political Council.