Politics
Moldova: Opposition’s victory in early election as “historic”
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe four opposition parties that managed to win 53 out of 101 parliamentary seats in the 29 July early parliamentary election have achieved a historic victory against an anachronic and revanchist Communist regime, a Moldovan pro-opposition newspaper has said. Yet, this victory would have been impossible without the large-scale protest rallies staged by young people against the rigging of the 5 April parliamentary election in early April, the paper says. It describes as a personal political tragedy of acting President Vladimir Voronin the result achieved by his Communist Party on 29 July which was far worse than the one on 5 April.
A Moldovan paper, Jurnal de Chisinau, describes Opposition’s victory in early election as "historic"
The four opposition parties that managed to win 53 out of 101 parliamentary seats in the 29 July early parliamentary election have achieved a "historic victory" against an "anachronic and revanchist Communist regime", a Moldovan pro-opposition newspaper has said. Yet, this victory would have been impossible without the large-scale protest rallies staged by young people against the rigging of the 5 April parliamentary election in early April, the paper says. It describes as a "personal political tragedy" of acting President Vladimir Voronin the result achieved by his Communist Party on 29 July which was far worse than the one on 5 April. By casting ballots for non-Communist parties, the Moldovan electorate voted for closer cooperation with the West rather than the East, the paper added. The following is the text of an article by Petru Bogatu published under the headline "A historic U-turn took place" in the pro-opposition newspaper Jurnal de Chisinau on 31 July; subheadings are as published:
The pyramid has turned upside down starting today. The authorities are now the opposition. And vice versa: the opposition can take over the power.
A six-month electoral match
The Communist Party has lost, in spite of the fact that, mathematically, it gained by a lot more votes than any of the opposition parties.
In the 29 July early parliamentary election the Communist Party received 44.69 per cent of votes, the Liberal Democratic Party, 16.57 per cent, the Liberal Party, 14.68 per cent, the Democratic Party, 12.54 per cent, and the Our Moldova Alliance, 7.35 per cent. The election was called after MPs who entered parliament on 5 April failed to elect the president.
Yet, politics defeats mathematics. In an electoral competition, the largest number of points does not ensure the victory. Using sport terminology, the Communists ended in the first place but, yet, failed to win the championship.
Although the opposition achieved a narrow victory, this was a deserved victory gained in the longest electoral match ever conducted in Moldova’s short but troubled history. The match, which started back in January 2009, lasted at least half a year and it ended in late July with a historic triumph of democracy against an anachronic and revanchist communist regime.
Now, when I am writing this article, the last two per cent of the votes, cast by Moldovans living and working abroad, are yet to be counted. But they already cannot influence the election outcome. Given the fact that, traditionally, Moldovans from abroad have been massively supporting democratic parties, the opposition stands the chance of winning one more mandate to the detriment of the authorities.
Vlad Filat’s party achieves spectacular results
Although it is obvious that we could overlook some details now that Bessarabia [the name of the current territory of the Republic of Moldova when it was part of the Russian empire between 1812 and 1918] is facing such a dramatic but at the same time intense political event, some of these details cannot be ignored as they have come as an absolute surprise. They are to be analyzed later but, for the time being, let’s at least name them.
First and foremost, a spectacular increase in the popularity rating of the Liberal Democratic Popular Party (PLDM) led by Vlad Filat is impressive. The PLDM becomes the strongest party of the democratic opposition, a development which no opinion poll has predicted. The good result achieved by the Democratic Party and a slight decrease in the rating of the Our Moldova Alliance were predictable, therefore, they have not surprised anybody.
Second, the turnout should be also taken into consideration. In spite of all pessimistic forecasts about huge absenteeism, the electorate mobilized in an exemplary way. On 29 July, the turnout was 58.77 per cent, up from 57.55 per cent on 5 April.
No July without April
It is now absolutely obvious that the democrats wouldn’t have achieved a triumph in July without the protest rallies staged by young people in April [against the alleged rigging of the 5 April election]. The anti-Communist rallies were not useless. They have raised people’s awareness and waken up drowsy voters, obliging them to take action. Of course, this fact reduced the chances of the ruling party.
At the same time, the popular revolt has scared Voronin as it showed him how odious his regime was in the eyes of the young generation. It seems that this truth had such a great impact on the Communist leader that he committed several monumental blunders which turned out to be fatal for the Communist Party.
This means that the victory of the opposition was prepared between the spring social disturbances and the summer early election. During this period, the Communist Party’s irreversible disintegration seems to have started. Yet, the party is still on its feet, and this obliges the opposition parties to unite in order to be stronger. Therefore, we have an impression that the three liberal parties will try to find common language with the Democratic Party in order to create a post-electoral coalition in the new parliament and form the government.
Everything depends on Lupu
As expected, former [Communist] speaker Marian Lupu is now in a very advantageous position. Regardless of what somebody may say, the Democratic Party’s role in defeating the Communist Party was irrefutable. If Lupu had not existed, he should have been invented. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the current situation, the Democratic Party leader can play the role of a triple joker. On the one hand, between the Democratic Party and the three liberal parties, on the other hand, between the united opposition and the currently ruling party. And third, between the Democratic Party and the Communist Party.
Theoretically, following a bargain, Marian Lupu could save the Communists in their desperate efforts to cling to power. If the Democratic Party allies with the Communist Party, then the two will have exactly the 61 seats needed to elect the president. Yet, this scenario seems very improbable. If he [Lupu] decides to side with the Communists, then his very heterogeneous team would split apart.
Anyway, in these circumstances, Marian Lupu’s political weight is on the rise. All the parties are at the mercy of the Democratic Party leader who, therefore, has the chance of taking over one of the highest state positions.
A catastrophe for Voronin
It is absolutely clear for everyone that today Voronin is experiencing a personal political tragedy. For him, the result of the 29 July election is a catastrophe. Yet, the defeat of the Communist Party is his "masterpiece".
Because he lacked ability to solve the parliamentary crisis that the country faced after the 5 April election, when the Communist Party had the power in its pocket, the Communist leader embarked on a new electoral fight that he lamentably lost. The Communists will not forgive him for this.
Thus, the 29 July early election has put an end to the political career of the still acting president. His collapse will cause a chain reaction that, probably, will lead to the disintegration of the Communist Party.
People chose West to detriment of East
The outcome of Wednesday’s election also has a geopolitical significance. We will not exaggerate at all if we say that the Moldovan electorate thwarted a Russian-Chinese conspiracy against the EU and NATO.
According to some Russian influential experts, the Kremlin reportedly asked China to add 1bn dollars to Russia’s 500m-dollar credit to stop EU’s and NATO’s eastward expansion and to keep Chisinau in the East’s area of influence.
It is well known that ahead of the 29 July election, being disappointed by Vladimir Voronin’s rude violations of legislation, Western financial institutions froze all their credit projects in Moldova. Russia decided to take advantage of this situation. Helped by China, it tried to corrupt the Communist government with 1.5bn dollars to undermine EU’s and USA’s efforts to promote democracy in the post-Soviet era. But they failed. As a result, the 29 July vote brings a historic U-turn of Chisinau towards the West.
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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