The formation of a new pro-European coalition in Parliament is wanted, but at least two parties that declare themselves pro-European – the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) and the Democratic Party (PDM) – do not trust each other. At the same time, most of the political forces do not want early parliamentary elections, this being the worst scenario for the country, while reforms are vital for Moldova’s future. The chances of forming the AEI 4 following the fall of the Government led by Lib-Dem Valeriu Strelet were discussed in the public debate “Chances of AEI 4 and of the Republic of Moldova,” that were staged by IPN News Agency in partnership with Radio Moldova.
Communist MP Artur Reshetnikov said that he and his colleagues didn’t hide the fact that they wanted the Premier to be dismissed based on allegations of corruption and the Communists, by their speeches, even convinced many of the MPs to vote for the dismissal of the Government. It’s strange why Valeriu Strelet didn’t use the Parliament rostrum to say who ‘captured’ the state and to make other revelations. All the parliamentary groups should come together for a dialogue where to form together a technocratic government and should unite society and stop dividing the people into ‘ours’ and ‘yours’.
Eugeniu Nichiforciuc, MP of the Democratic Party, replied, saying the Democrats weren’t convinced by the Communists to vote for the no-confidence motion. The PDM has its own position and reasons for which it decided to withdraw its support for the Government. “Mister Strelet indeed didn’t convince us that the country needs such a Premier. We decided that we should not reach winter with such a Government and should make effort to form a new, powerful pro-European government. We hope to create an efficient government. We must realize that Moldova needs a Government that must represent the interests of the county, not only of some people. Our goal is to fight corruption. The country deserves a government that would fight corruption. It does not need a government that would create a shield around those who are suspected of acts of corruption,” he stated, adding that the PDM will negotiate the formation of a new parliamentary majority only with the parties that openly declare themselves pro-European.
Liberal-Democratic MP Chiril Lucinschi said the vote to dismiss the Government with the support of the Democrats was similar to the scenario of 2013, when the Cabinet was headed by Vlad Filat. “I agreed with the idea that a parliamentary majority actually didn’t exist. Only 50 MPs is not enough. We discussed the possibility of coopting the Leanca group into the alliance. We were sincere and at least in the last meeting we said that we are ready to discuss. But we were told that the re-formation of the alliance is possible only by dismissing the Government,” he stated. According to Chiril Luchinschi, the Lib-Dems consider that somebody wants to extend the control over the state institutions and this was the real goal of the dismissal of the Cabinet. That’s why the invitation to form a new coalition, even if it’s a correct proposal, will be examined only after the PLDM convinces itself that the PDM already trusts the Lib-Dems.
Igor Botan, executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT), who is the permanent expert of the IPN project, stated that the October 29 vote in Parliament represented settling of an old score. He said he wants to understand the PCRM’s motivation to vote for the no-confidence motion when knowing that the PDM wants a coalition with the pro-European parties. The PCRM is not a pro-European party and will not be invited to negotiations, but also wants to avoid early legislative elections for fear. “It is important to understand that the Government was dismissed in order to settle an old score. My conclusion is that the current political class is unable to govern,” he stated.
The public debate “Chances of AEI 4 and of the Republic of Moldova” is the 43rd installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates”. The project is supported by the German foundation “Hanns Seidel”.
