Chisinau made strategic mistakes in Gagauzia, which risks turning from an autonomous unit loyal to Chisinau, as it was in 2010, into a platform for strengthening the anti-European positions, considers political commentator Corneliu Ciurea, IPN reports.
In a comment for politicon.md, Ciurea says the relations between Chisinau and Comrat were acceptable until 2013, when a kind of agreement existed between the then Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Governor Mihail Formuzal. But the struggle between the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Vlad Filat and the Democratic politician Vlad Plahotniuc undermined this agreement to a certain extent, when the Democrats attracted a number of deputies from Gagauzia on their side.
“The non-inspired rivalry between Vlad Filat and Vlad Plahotniuc and Iurie Leanca’s inability to communicate with Comrat led to the political isolation of Mihail Formuzal, without the head of the Democrats from the region Nicolae Dudoglo becoming an accepted leader in the region. Abandoned by Chisinau, Formuzal had to choose the smallest evil and to support the pro-Russian politician Irina Vlah in the current campaign, even if he does not like this candidate,” stated Corneliu Ciurea.
According to the analyst, the Democratic Party won the battle against Formuzal, but loses it evidently to Igor Dodon’s Socialists. Thus, from an autonomous unit loyal to Chisinau, as it was in 2010, Gagauzia risks turning into a platform for strengthening the anti-European positions.
Corneliu Ciurea said the official Chisinau must accept this defeat and look for new instruments for communication with the Gagauz region. History teaches us the following lesson – the Moldovan political parties do not have the right to settle the old scores using Comrat for this. The confrontation of the oligarchs creates preconditions for separatist actions in the country’s regions. That’s why Chisinau must have a coordinated policy in Gagauzia.
The residents of Gagauzia choose their Governor on March 22. Ten candidates are running in these elections.
