Historian and publicist Gheorghe Cojocaru said President Igor Dodon wants to impose a new style in the activity of the presidential institution. Moreover, he wants to give a new role to the President within the political system. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the historian said President Dodon wants to make himself more present in the public life, to gain popular support and improve his image so as to extend his powers that are much lower than his pretentions, IPN reports.

According to Gheorghe Cojocaru, this is to be done by closer ties with the press, direct and systemic communication with the mass media and, through these, with the whole society. The intention is to also form  different bodies specialized in economic, social and educational problems around the President, whose duty will be to ensure the launch of initiatives in a series, through which Igor Dodon would make himself more present in the public life.

The historian noted that compared with his predecessor, his election by the direct people’s vote is Igor Dodon’s advantage and he thus can ask for his powers to be extended. But these can be extended only based on the other branches of the power, first of all the legislative one.

“Another advantage of Igor Dodon, compared with his predecessor Nicolae Timofti, is that he has such a ‘vehicle’ as the Party of Socialists, with an important presence in Parliament and at the local level, which would secure the necessary political support. Last but not least, there is the youth and ambition to dominate authoritatively on the political arena, where he has in front discredited opponents and political figures who cannot be regarded as combative leaders,” stated the historian.

Asked if the power’s reaction of neglect, of the executive in particular, is an appropriate response, Gheorghe Cojocaru said this is inappropriate because it could be interpreted as a weakness, showing rather a misunderstanding of the developments after the inauguration of Igor Dodon as President