The only true motivation of the government for changing the electoral system was to stay in power, but this was done under the pressure of foreign threats. This was one of the takeaways of last night’s WatchDog talk show on TV8.

The activist and pundit Valeriu Pasa said the government introduced the mixed voting system seeing it as its only chance of retaining power, and in doing so, it violated the democratic principle of refraining from electoral changes too close to holding an election. “That is the general recommendation, the international democratic practice. The deputies who are currently in Parliament must not create rules for themselves”, said Valeriu Pasa.

He claimed that there are no similar countries to have such an electoral one-round system. “Such a system for a unicameral parliament is unthinkable of, for the simple reason because it can make an MP out of someone who garners just 5-6 percent of (the eligible) votes (in a constituency). This is absolutely unrepresentative and even undemocratic, especially in Moldova’s conditions”, said Pasa.

However, Ghenadie Cosovan, head of the veterans’ organization “Credinta Patriei” and a supporter on the new system, warned that the influence of foreign forces, in particular the Kremlin, have intensified lately and proof is the pro-Russian Igor Dodon becoming president. In his opinion, if the future elections were to be held as per the old rules, Dodon’s Socialist Party would have won by a landslide. “Under the new system, we still have a chance”, said Ghenadie Cosovan.