The representatives of a number of civil society organizations consider the current government, which declares itself pro-European, lost voters’ confidence following the formation of a minority government and the situation in the banking sector. Before the elections, the authorities had an active dialogue with civil society, but now they turned their back and do not take into account the dissatisfaction existing in society. The opinions were stated in a public debate entitled “The pro-European government: ‘delivery pains’ and quality of society in the role of ‘midwife’”, which was staged IPN News Agency in partnership with Radio Moldova.
Oazu Nantoi, a member of the Civic Platform Dignity and Truth, said that in fact Parliament represents the mirror of society. The pro-European parties lost voters’ confidence and the behavior of the political players, especially of those who declare themselves Europeans, causes repugnance in society. The people feel the necessity of having a representative that will express their dissatisfaction as it is evident that internal pressure is developing in the form of a mute protest. According to him, it is very important that the voices be coherent and be heard.
Lilia Snegureac, secretary of the Civil Society Platform “Pro-Europa”, said it now seems that the government does not know what democratic government and democratic institutions mean. Those who are in power also do not know what public dialogue and social dialogue are and political culture cannot be sought from the ordinary people at a time when those who have managed the country for many years do not know what it is. The dialogue with civil society was active only before the elections and with only some of the representatives of civil society. “As to the dialogue between civil society and the parties, the political class, I think civil society discussed with the three monkeys of Gandhi – ‘I don’t see’, ‘I don’t hear’ and ‘I don’t say’,” stated Lilia Snegureac.
Ion Dron, who heads the Association “Justice and Uprightness”, said the political class and civil society represent in fact a whole. “They are our mirror and we must not make this difference when we speak about the problems of the community in which we live,” he stated, adding that civil society is also in ‘delivery pains’ as it is dispersed and is not coherent. However, the political crises witnessed until now had also a positive effect as the number of those who criticize the government is higher now than four years ago and civil society was mobilized. “We are making effort to find a straight line from which to start, to find a consensus. We should give up uttering slogans and should come and demand that they do concrete things in the form of strategies and programs worked out by us, and we should prove that we are better than they are,” stated Ion Dron.
Igor Botan, executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT), who is the permanent expert of IPN’s project, said that given the illegalities ascertained lately and the thefts committed by those who are in power, society has no other way than to oppose this hybrid government. An increasing number of protest centers appear. This protesting potential should be kept for the local elections and should be concentrated in a common front that will make the government understand that they cannot permanently lie to the people. “This potential should be manifested decently so as not to allow a short circuit as during April 2009. With the help of this people’s front, the government should be removed in a legal and decent way,” he stated.
The public debate “The pro-European government: ‘delivery pains’ and quality of society in the role of ‘midwife’” is the 37th of the series of debates “Development of political culture in public debates” that are organized with the support of the German foundation Hanns Seidel.
