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Do what you must, just don’t call this Government “pro-European”

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This opinion belongs to Dumitru Alaiba, Head of Secretariat of Prime-Minister’s Economic Council, and was initially posted on his blog.

Dear international press and public officials,

On Wednesday, January 20th, the Moldovan parliament voted for a new Government.

It would be fair to say, at least, that this started as the most controversial Government Moldova has ever had.

The members of the Government have been introduced to the public just a few hours before. The mass media and civil society did not have time to assess the candidates. Some of them have dubious reputations, others have proven rather incompetent in their previous positions. The only thing that is solid about most of them – their loyalty towards Vladimir Plahotniuc – the country’s richest oligarch.

We have a welcome tradition that the make-up and programme of governments are scrutinized in advance. In this case, the three-year Government program has been made public two hours before the Government was voted in. Again, nobody had enough time to react. The meetings with the civil society have been simply imitated – they were neither sincere nor open. This is the sentiment civil society representatives had after the meetings. The candidate for prime minister was just ticking his boxes.

30 minutes – is how long it took to vote in the new Government . No debates, no questions, and no proper presentation of a Government program that will affect this country and its people for the next three years. The ”ceremony” of appointing the new Government took place secretly in the middle of the night. The public was informed about it post-factum.

About the new prime minister: we can only call him prime minister because his boss, Plahotniuc, had to scramble to find a new candidate after massive protests erupted against him. At one point he had even considered becoming prime minister himself. The same members of parliament that intended to vote for Plahotniuc voted for this new prime minister. This is merely the biggest merit of our new prime minister – that his name is not Plahotniuc, and that he’s still very loyal to the regime.

The candidate, and the Government as a whole, are not a result of any political negotiation, but merely of the fact that one person, Plahotniuc, owns over half of the Parliament, having either paid big $ for it, or blackmailed as many members of the Parliament as he needed in order to ensure a majority in the parliament. This is a puppet government sworn in with huge controversy and total lack of transparency with no public scrutiny whatsoever.

That is why this is an illegitimate prime minister and an illegitimate Government.

The Protests

On the same day, Wednesday 20th, starting 4PM, as a parliament controlled by one single person was voting for this Government, for three hours I was one of the many angry Moldovans protesting outside the parliament against a puppet PM. It was around -10 degrees Celcius and it was dark. So it happened that I was next to quite a few representatives of the civil society that are still independent. All of us pro-European, protesting against an illegitimate Government that was about to be installed by Plahotniuc. The crowd did not shout out a single anti-EU slogan.

It is disappointing that the protests turned violent. Let the ones responsible for maintaining order take some responsibility, not just play the victim, and let the ones that provoked violence to also answer for their deeds. This was not what the protest was about. The absolute majority of the protesters were peaceful.

It was extremely surprising to find that the European press reported on “anti-European protests following the appointment of a pro-EU Government”. Then, similar declarations from EU officials and institutions followed. I felt..insulted. Many of us felt like that.

If there is anything we know about this Government, it’s that this Government is not pro-European. This Government is pro-Plahotniuc. They are pro-European in words, not in deeds. The way they have been appointed is a good enough indicator of their pro-Europeanism. This is what the pro-European population of this country thinks about this Government. This is not the people vs the EU or the people against Russia. This is the people against an oligarch.

This is an illegitimate Government that ticked all the boxes procedurally but has been appointed with total mistrust and lack of transparency. While the law may have been formally respected (their bureaucrats know how to make sure the procedure looks impeccable on paper), the spirit of the law has been broken. Legally sound, morally dubious, with the whiff of corruption ever present.

So, do us a favor and do not ever call this Government pro-European.

Calling this Government pro-European will only make the pro-EU sentiment, at a record low at the moment, to further melt. If there is one thing the “pro-European” governments have succeeded at, it is to make sure that people move away from the pro-EU sentiment. In the last six years, the percentage of population that wants to join the EU, has gradually declined by almost half. By calling this Government pro-European, you side with the Government, in opposition to the pro-European population of this country. This is a puppet Government made up of mediocre, servile and mostly incompetent people that do not deserve their mandates.

A Government cannot be called pro-European when its own people despise it.

How do we respond? Just a few examples of what we would need to see:

Moldova has one of the most complicated procedures of registering a political party in Europe, and this issue is consistently ignored by our politicians. While in most EU countries you can start a party with one, three, or ten members, in small Moldova you need five thousand supporters that come from at least half of the country’s districts. In the same time, we, the people, find ourselves in the situation of not having real alternatives when elections come. If this Parliament maintains that it is pro-European, it could amend the legislation in no time and as of February this year we could adapt a truly European approach. By having voted a Government of unknowns they proved they can move fast. We need an alternative to the parties that call themselves pro-European.

If this Government is pro-European, let them institute true transparency that will effectively prevent corruption. They are afraid of any transparency, in any field. They started in total lack of transparency and the way things look, this is how they will govern.

If this Government is indeed pro-European, it should immediately and credibly answer all the questions regarding the stolen billion – especially that the people responsible for their actions and inactions are known. Dozens of high-level officials would need to go to jail for not doing anything to prevent or effectively solve this crime. We have institutions that were supposed to act and didn’t. There are concrete people that need to take responsibility. Any government that wants to regain its citizens’ trust should treat this issue as a matter of honor.

If this Government insists it is pro-European, it should make sure the monopolies for the export and import of merely any product are dismantled immediately. At the moment, the barriers an entrepreneur faces are huge when it comes to exporting or to importing most products, and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement signed with the EU benefits the selected few players. The market is kept for the right people, while the rest have to comply with an infinite amount of invented conditions, permanently coping with extortion and bribery. Any entrepreneur will confirm that. If the right measures are put in place, within one year we can triple the number of exporting companies.

If this is a reform-oriented government, we would like to see them dismantle the schemes in the energy market (electricity, gas), and the monopoly on metal exports. Let them clean up the permanent robbery in the state owned telecommunications company. These schemes have robbed the citizens for years and are feeding, on a monthly basis, Plahotniuc’s cashflow. Everybody knows that, but nobody does anything about it.

If this Government was pro-European, it would accept the problems and stop fooling their own people. This Prime minister should not deny the obvious – that we live in a captured state, where his boss, Plahotniuc, has nearly absolute power (yes, he already publicly denied it, in the first days of his mandate). He would not go into bureaucratic excuses that “there is no proof”. And if this Prime minister wants to serve his country, he would not consult on state issues with the person that represents the biggest problem of this country – Plahotniuc (yes, he also admitted publicly that he will do so). If he would want to show he means well for the people of this country, he would distance himself immediately and publicly from Plahotniuc. But he won’t.

Three more years of such “stability” will destroy a lot of lives that simply disagree with the methods this regime is applying. You will not have time to react to every inch of abuse. We will be left alone.

Yes, we understand the pragmatism behind the statements of saluting any government being installed. Just don’t call them pro-European. It is not Europe that they represent. And don’t call us, the people, pro-Russian either.

Correspondent reporter of Moldova.org Focus: Transnistrian conflict settlement, Eastern Partnership. Inquiries at [email protected]

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Society

“They are not needy, but they need help”. How Moldovan volunteers try to create a safe environment for the Ukrainian refugees

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At the Government’s ground floor, the phones ring constantly, the laptop screens never reach standby. In one corner of the room there is a logistics planning meeting, someone has a call on Zoom with partners and donors, someone else finally managed to take a cookie and make some coffee. Everyone is exhausted and have sleepy red eyes, but the volunteers still have a lot of energy and dedication to help in creating a safe place for the Ukrainian refugees.

“It’s like a continuous bustle just so you won’t read the news. You get home sometimes and you don’t have time for news, and that somehow helps. It’s a kind of solidarity and mutual support,” says Vlada Ciobanu, volunteer responsible for communication and fundraising.

The volunteers group was formed from the very first day of war. A Facebook page was created, where all types of messages immediately started to flow: “I offer accommodation”, “I want to help”, “I want to get involved”, “Where can I bring the products?”, “I have a car and I can go to the customs”. Soon, the authorities also started asking for volunteers’ support. Now they all work together, coordinate activities and try to find solutions to the most difficult problems.

Is accommodation needed for 10, 200 or 800 people? Do you need transportation to the customs? Does anyone want to deliver 3 tons of apples and does not know where? Do you need medicine or mobile toilets? All these questions require prompt answers and actions. Blankets, sheets, diapers, hygiene products, food, clothes – people bring everything, and someone needs to quickly find ways of delivering them to those who need them.

Sometimes this collaboration is difficult, involves a lot of bureaucracy, and it can be difficult to get answers on time. “Republic of Moldova has never faced such a large influx of refugees and, probably because nobody thought this could happen, a mechanism of this kind of crisis has not been developed. Due to the absence of such a mechanism that the state should have created, we, the volunteers, intervened and tried to help in a practical way for the spontaneous and on the sport solutions of the problems,” mentions Ecaterina Luțișina, volunteer responsible for the refugees’ accommodation.

Ana Maria Popa, one of the founders of the group “Help Ukrainians in Moldova/SOS Українці Молдовa” says that the toughest thing is to find time and have a clear mind in managing different procedures, although things still happen somehow naturally. Everyone is ready to intervene and help, to take on more responsibilities and to act immediately when needed. The biggest challenges arise when it is necessary to accommodate large families, people with special needs, for which alternative solutions must be identified.

Goods and donations

The volunteers try to cope with the high flow of requests for both accommodation and products of all kinds. “It came to me as a shock and a panic when I found out that both mothers who are now in Ukraine, as well as those who found refuge in our country are losing their milk because of stress. We are trying to fill an enormous need for milk powder, for which the demand is high and the stocks are decreasing”, says Steliana, the volunteer responsible for the distribution of goods from the donation centers.

Several centers have been set up to collect donations in all regions of Chisinau, and volunteers are redirecting the goods to where the refugees are. A system for processing and monitoring donations has already been established, while the volunteer drivers take over the order only according to a unique code.

Volunteers from the collection centers also do the inventory – the donated goods and the distributed goods. The rest is transported to Vatra deposit, from where it is distributed to the placement centers where more than 50 refugees are housed.

When they want to donate goods, but they don’t know what would be needed, people are urged to put themselves in the position of refugees and ask themselves what would they need most if they wake up overnight and have to hurriedly pack their bags and run away. Steliana wants to emphasise that “these people are not needy, but these people need help. They did not choose to end up in this situation.”

Furthermore, the volunteer Cristina Sîrbu seeks to identify producers and negotiate prices for products needed by refugees, thus mediating the procurement process for NGOs with which she collaborates, such as Caritas, World Children’s Fund, Polish Solidarity Fund, Lifting hands, Peace Corps and others.

One of the challenges she is facing now is the identifying a mattress manufacturer in the West, because the Moldovan mattress manufacturer that has been helping so far no longer has polyurethane, a raw material usually imported from Russia and Ukraine.

Cristina also needs to find solutions for the needs of the volunteer groups – phones, laptops, gsm connection and internet for a good carrying out of activities.

Hate messages

The most difficult thing for the communication team is to manage the hate messages on the social networks, which started to appear more often. “Even if there is some sort of dissatisfaction from the Ukrainian refugees and those who offer help, we live now in a very diverse society, there are different kind of people, and we act very differently under stress,” said Vlada Ciobanu.

Translation by Cătălina Bîrsanu

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Important

#WorldForUkraine – a map that shows the magnitude of the world’s actions against Russian aggression

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The international community and volunteers from all over te world have launched #WorldForUkraine as a platform that shows the magnitude of the world’s actions against the Russian aggression. In a digital world – it is an interactive map of public support of Ukrainians under the hashtag #WorldForUkraine – rallies, flash mobs, protests around the world. In the physical dimension – it is your opportunity to take to the streets and declare: “No to Putin’s aggression, no to war.”

„Today, along with the political and military support, emotional connection with the civilized world and truthful information are extremely important for Ukraine. The power to do it is in your hands. Join the #WorldForUkraine project and contribute to the victorious battle against the bloodshed inflicted on Ukraine by the aggression of the Russian Federation”, says the „about the project” section of the platform.

Go to the streets — Tell people — Connect and Unite — Become POWERFUL

Volunteers have launched #WorldForUkraine as a platform that shows the magnitude of the world’s actions against Russian aggression. In digital world – it is an INTERACTIVE MAP of public support of Ukrainians worldforukraine.net under the hashtag #WorldForUkraine – rallies, flash mobs, protests around the world. In the physical dimension – it is your opportunity to take to the streets and declare: “No to Putin’s aggression, no to war.” There you may find information about past and future rallies in your city in support of Ukraine. This is a permanent platform for Ukrainian diaspora and people all over the world concerned about the situation in Ukraine.

So here’s a couple of things you could do yourself to help:

* if there is a political rally in your city, then participate in it and write about it on social media with geolocation and the hashtag #WorldForUkraine

* if there are no rallies nearby, organize one in support of Ukraine yourself, write about it on social media with geolocation adding the hashtag #WorldForUkraine

The map will add information about gathering by #WorldForUkraine AUTOMATICALLY

Your voice now stronger THAN ever

All rallies are already here: https://worldforukraine.net

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Important

How is Moldova managing the big influx of Ukrainian refugees? The authorities’ plan, explained 

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From 24th to 28th of February, 71 359 Ukrainian citizens entered the territory of Republic of Moldova. 33 173 of them left the country. As of this moment, there are 38 186 Ukrainian citizens in Moldova, who have arrived over the past 100 hours. 

The Moldovan people and authorities have organized themselves quickly from the first day of war between Russia and Ukraine. However, in the event of a prolonged armed conflict and a continuous influx of Ukrainian refugees, the efforts and donations need to be efficiently managed. Thus, we inquired about Moldova’s long-term plan and the state’s capacity to receive, host, and treat a bigger number of refugees. 

On February 26th, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Moldova approved the Regulation of organization and functioning of the temporary Placement Center for refugees and the staffing and expenditure rules. According to the Regulation, the Centers will have the capacity of temporary hosting and feeding at least 20 persons, for a maximum of 3 months, with the possibility of extending this period. The Centers will also offer legal, social, psychological, and primary medical consultations to the refugees. The Center’s activity will be financed from budget allocations, under Article 19 of Provision no. 1 of the Exceptional Situations Commission from February 24th, 2022, and from other sources of funding that do not contravene applicable law.

The Ministry of Inner Affairs and the Government of Moldova facilitated the organization of the volunteers’ group “Moldova for Peace”.  Its purpose is to receive, offer assistance and accommodation to the Ukrainian refugees. The group is still working on creating a structure, registering and contacting volunteers, etc. It does not activate under a legal umbrella. 

Lilia Nenescu, one of the “Moldova for Peace” volunteers, said that the group consists of over 20 people. Other 1700 registered to volunteer by filling in this form, which is still available. The group consists of several departments: 

The volunteers’ department. Its members act as fixers: they’re responsible for connecting the people in need of assistance with the appropriate department. Some of the volunteers are located in the customs points. “The Ministry of Inner Affairs sends us every day the list of the customs points where our assistance is needed, and we mobilize the volunteers”, says Lilia Nenescu. 

The Goods Department manages all the goods donated by the Moldavian citizens. The donations are separated into categories: non-perishable foods and non-food supplies. The volunteers of this department sort the goods into packages to be distributed. 

The Government intends to collect all the donations in four locations. The National Agency for Food Safety and the National Agency for Public Health will ensure mechanisms to confirm that all the deposited goods comply with safety and quality regulations. 

The Service Department operates in 4 directions and needs the volunteer involvement of specialists in psychology, legal assistance (the majority of the refugees only have Ukrainian ID and birth certificates of their children); medical assistance; translation (a part of the refugees are not Ukrainian citizens). 

According to Elena Mudrîi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, so far there is no data about the number of  Covid-19 positive refugees. She only mentioned two cases that needed outpatient medical assistance: a pregnant woman and the mother of a 4-day-old child. 

The Accommodation Department. The volunteers are waiting for the centralized and updated information from the Ministry of Labor about the institutions offering accommodation, besides the houses offered by individuals. 

The Transport Department consists of drivers organized in groups. They receive notifications about the number of people who need transportation from the customs points to the asylum centers for refugees.

The municipal authorities of Chișinău announced that the Ukrainian children refugees from the capital city will be enrolled in educational institutions. The authorities also intend to create Day-Care Centers for children, where they will be engaged in educational activities and will receive psychological assistance. Besides, the refugees from the municipal temporary accommodation centers receive individual and group counseling. 

In addition to this effort, a group of volunteers consisting of Ana Gurău, Ana Popapa, and Andrei Lutenco developed, with the help of Cristian Coșneanu, the UArefugees platform, synchronized with the responses from this form. On the first day, 943 people offered their help using the form, and 110 people asked for help. According to Anna Gurău, the volunteers communicate with the Government in order to update the platform with the missing data. 

Translation from Romanian by Natalia Graur

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