Poverty generates demand for populism, but this is the most dangerous thing as populism comes with very primitive solutions to complex problems, the permanent expert of IPN’s project Igor Boțan stated in a public debate hosted by IPN News Agency.
“Surely, there are many examples when the citizens prefer a firm hand for particular problems to be solved swiftly, but the democratic formula enables to ease tensions in society in a permanent manner. If the system is rigid, a way out is anyway found - by war or by a special military operation to channel the people’s dissatisfaction and to find all kinds of explanations why things take place in a particular way,” stated Igor Boțan.
He noted that some of the people in Moldova got used to living poorer and resign themselves to this situation, but there is a middle class that can be the driving force of changes to the better.
“Those who have relatively better living standards hope that these can be improved further and they therefore become involved in the public life, in political processes. Evidently, the people are dissatisfied when prices grow suddenly, as they do now in the region. However, we have two categories: those who prefer to obtain some money swiftly and those who want to invest in the medium and long terms. If we support this path, we will find solutions to the problems. In Central and Eastern Europe, there were Communist regions, but these are now prosperous states that solve their problems owing to the European integration. They have plans for the cultural, scientific and other sectors, but we do not have such plans, regrettably. We need to find budget funds for socially deprived persons and not much is left in the budget for culture and science,” stated Igor Boțan.
He considers the Moldovan authorities know the problems related to poverty and how this can be eradicated and they only need to act. The Agrarian, Communist, Liberal and Social-Liberal governments that ruled in Moldova contributed to building a consumer society. The foreign partners warned that a favorable investment climate, an independent justice sector and well-developed infrastructure are needed.
“We are now close to opening the accession negotiations with the EU. If the pre-accession resources of the EU for developing the Republic of Moldova are added to these three factors, I think the perspectives are very good. It is now very important for the citizens to also realize what the authorities do in the European integration process,” noted the expert.
The public debate entitled “Poverty in Moldova: social, political and geopolitical dangers?” was the 282nd installment of IPN’s project “Developing Political Culture through Public Debates” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
