Politics
Moldovan press is pretty partial in covering post-election situation
Reading Time: 5 minutesMoldovas printed mass media are covering fairly differently the current post-election situation in the republic, and appear to be not free from political partiality.
Moldova’s printed mass media are covering fairly differently the current post-election situation in the republic, and appear to be not free from political partiality.
Upon carrying out a review of the main Moldovan publications this week, your Infotag correspondent arrived at a conclusion that the Jurnal de Chisinau daily newspaper, coming out in the Romanian language and being a part of the Jurnal Trust Media that includes also the JurnalTV channel, is overtly sympathizing with the three election-winner parties of the governing Alliance for European Integration. On November 30, for instance, the paper published an article in the editor’s column headlined "Moldova is Getting Greener", in which the author offered an definitely biased assessment of election results, regretting that although the democratic forces have polled altogether more than the Communist Party, the Communists’ positions are remaining quite strong.
The article headlined "We Need to Work Much Yet" confirmed the publication’s partial attitude to the Alliance. Its author admits that "the old folks vote for the Communists under the influence of 100 grams of vodka in the morning". The newspaper described in bright colors the atmosphere which reigned in the LDPM headquarters upon hearing the results of the November 28 exit poll, which gave more votes to the Liberal Democratic Party than to the Communists.
"Everybody was shouting over phones that the LDPM had defeated the Communists. Motorists in the streets were signaling and crying out congratulations", and the situation in the Communist Party headquarter was described in gloomy tones: A coffin-like silence, hopelessness, fear and uncertainty and the like.
"Moldova Defeats Communism", "Moldovans Have Saved Moldova", "Under Rain, Snow and in Deadly Weather Moldovans Voted for Changes" – such were the headlines of the articles that appeared in the first post-election issue of the Timpul [Time] newspaper of Chisinau [as a matter of fact, the weather was excellent last Sunday – bright sun, cloudless sky, quite warm, with rain starting only on the following Monday, and snow on Wednesday], whose Editor-in-Chief is Constantin Tanase, the father of the First Deputy Chairperson of the Liberal Democratic Party, Moldovan Minister of Justice Alexandru Tanase. Timpul wrote that the exit poll results were more optimistic than the election results heard several hours afterwards, when it became clear that the Communists received over 10% ballots more than the Liberal Democrats, nor to mention other parties.
The newspaper’s sympathy for the LDPM can be seen from another article, "Do They Want to Sell Us?" whose author is bewildered by the fact that the weaker AEI parties [Democratic and Liberal] are blackmailing the Liberal Democrats, who have received 32 mandates in the new Parliament.
The Timpul reiterated its fundamental anti-communist profile in an article headlined "Nobody and Nothing Can Bring Us Back into the Communist Swamp", in which the author is trying to convince its readers that the Democratic Party will not agree to form an alliance with the Communists: "The Democratic Party has quite enough soberly-minded politicians who realize that Voronin is a stone on the nation’s neck. The DP maintains contacts with foreign parties that regard Voronin as the last living dictator in Europe, on whose conscience are political and economic crimes, and even the physical annihilation of opponents after April 5, 2009", Nicolae Lungu wrote in his article on December 1.
Timpul is renowned also for its ardently pro-Romanian and xenophobic anti-Russian outlooks, which can be seen e.g. in the December 2 issue, where one could read the following characteristic: "The identikit of a mankurt Moldovan [mankurt is a person oblivious of his origin and home; ≈ zombie, manipulated person] is so simple: he was born after 1940 and has been manufactured according to the law of a devilish [communist] ideology – at school he studied the ‘Moldavian language’ based on the Cyrillic alphabet, studied the History of the USSR and the Russian language, which was imposed on him from the first class. He sang Russian songs glorifying the light communist future, the friendship of the Soviet peoples, the Russian brother who has brought sunlight, whereas the Romanians were imposed on him as fascists and occupants".
The author is calling to a "revolution of mentality" but regrets that, so far, "the Moldovans are widely perceived and used as a guaranteed, reliable electoral material in its pre-revolutionary phase".
Moldova’s Russian-language press is not devoid of partiality, either. Unlike their Romanian-language colleagues who present positively the probable alliance of Right forces, these mass media are advocating – directly and indirectly – a would-be possible Left-Centrist coalition.
The Nezavissimaya Moldova [Independent Moldova] daily newspaper, which overtly backs the Communist Party, was coming out for 2 days after the elections with crying headlines like "The Regime Has Rigged the Elections", and published the Communist Party’s explanations and arguments that the elections abounded in violations and fraud. Unlike pro-AEI papers that offer diverse scenarios of the shaping of post-election coalitions, the Nezavissimaya Moldova does not do this. The only article presenting the MCP’s stance was signed by former Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy Igor Dodon, who wrote on his party’s behalf that the MCP stands ready for negotiations, and has a considerable part of the Moldovan electorate standing behind it.
Dodon wrote, "Currently, it is urgently necessary to form all structures of the Parliament and a functional, efficient Government, so that to subsequently proceed to achieving a consensus on electing President".
The Nezavissimaya Moldova’s political twin brother is the Moldova Suverana Romanian-language daily newspaper, a half of whose volume accounts for materials provided by the pro-Communist Omega news agency. The newspaper wrote this week, "The MCP is ready to form a parliamentary majority and a government of national trust".
Unlike them, the Moldavskiye Vedomosti [Moldovan News] Russian-language newspaper presented a fairly weighted, balanced picture of the post-election situation. The publication presumes that Vladimir Filat has sound grounds to put forward firmly his party’s requirements to be met with the future parliamentary allies, though the paper remarks that the MCP has analogous grounds, too, so "these two shall become the locomotives of negotiations about parliamentary coalitions, and shall be putting forward conditions – primarily to the Democratic Party".
At saying so, the Moldavskiye Vedomosti is warning against forgetting such a dark horse as DP parliamentary candidate Vladimir Plahotniuc, and is offering the following probable variant: "The Plahotniuc/Voronin formula is complicated but possible. The Plahotniuc/Filat formula seems less promising".
The Moldovan subdivision of the Kommersant [an influential Moscow newspaper] presumes that the Democratic Party has reasons for making a deal with the Communists. Quoting Dr. Vyacheslav Igrunov, Director of the Russian Institute of Humanitarian and Political Researches, the Kommersant Moldova wrote, "In order to create a sustainable majority in the Moldovan Parliament and to elect President, a coalition of the Democratic and Communist Parties will suffice, and the republic will then receive a substantially reliable government that will be easy to bargain with in Moscow, too… Russia is primarily interested in preventing the nationalists, i.e., the Filat-headed coalition, from coming into power".
The Kommersant Moldova is thus gently orienting its readers to the possibility of an alliance between the Communist Party and the Democratic Party, but says this will be difficult to achieve, and refers to the recent saying by Christian Democratic Popular Party leader Iurie Rosca, who presumes that "pressure from the West will be put on Marian Lupu".
A detailed analysis of the post-election situation in Moldova was proposed by the Kishinevskii Obozrevatel [Chisinau Observer] Russian-language daily newspaper. In its commentary headlined "How to Divide the Pie?" the publication proposed 4 possible scenarios: (1) the most utopian one – a Union of the Four, which is impossible in principle because Ghimpu and Voronin cannot and will not be together – never; (2) almost utopian – a union of the Communists and the Liberal Democrats, which would guarantee political stability but would be pernicious for the images of both parties; (3) rebirth of the Alliance for European Integration, which may fractionalize the DP in a distant perspective and, hence, should be advantageous for it as for the holder of the ‘golden key’; and (4) the union of the MCP and DP – a variant far from the easiest one, but one giving Marian Lupu a chance to become President of Moldova and receive for his party almost a half of ministerial portfolios.
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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