Director of the Bucharest-based Center of East European Studies Raluca Raducanu considers the newly invested Government of Moldova got off on the wrong foot with the people and the Western partners. She stated her opinion in an interview for Radio Free Europe, quoted by IPN.

As to the proposal of Democrats’ leader Marian Lupu to skip over the formal procedure and hold a vote directly, Raluca Raducanu said this was a big mistake because there appeared the impression that the party and the Government are not interested in having a dialogue with the people of Moldova.

“I think the Government should now discuss with all the social categories in the Republic of Moldova, with the protesters. By their demands, the protesters have the right to create the agenda of this Government, especially because the Republic of Moldova goes through a very difficult sociopolitical and political crisis. It would be a mistake to ignore the voices from the street,” stated the director, noting that the social life in Chisinau degraded a lot and the people struggle with poverty at a time when some enrich themselves and think how to maximize their profit.

As regards the possible early elections, Raluca Raducanu said these would have led the Republic of Moldova towards an anti-European alliance of the left. The Western partners wouldn’t have provided financial support because the parties that could have come to power are not interested in having a dialogue with the West and the crisis would have thus worsened. “A Government was formed and this is the best bad variant of the possible ones. This Cabinet must assume a government program that will be subject to criticism and this should be noted clearly,” she stated.

The Filip Government was voted in on January 20 amid demonstrations mounted near the Parliament Building, organized by the Party of Socialists, “Our Party” and the Civic Platform “Dignity and Truth”. The people demanded early legislative elections.