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Retrospective of a crisis. On the verge of collapse

The beginning of 2013 was marked by a deep political crisis that could have led to early parliamentary elections, while the current government would have experienced a crushing defeat in the polls. The politicians realized yet the risk and overcame the internal misunderstandings. As a result, at the end of November Moldova initialed the Association Agreement with the EU, with the European Commission recommending liberalizing the visa regime for Moldovans. The articles of the series “Retrospective of a crisis. On the verge of collapse” aim to anticipate how the events of 2013 will influence people’s options next year, which is an electoral one, and to formulate conclusions.

Vote of May 3

After the Filat Government was dismissed, the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) proposed forming a coalition, but without the group of Liberals led by Mihai Ghimpu (which had only five members after the Liberal reformers separated themselves). “I will no longer tolerate hysteria and foolishness in government,” said Vlad Filat.

On May 3, the Liberal-Democrats and the Communists voted together seven bills. Some of them were later declared unconstitutional, while others were annulled. “May 3 was a black day for democracy in Moldova and for its European integration. At internal level, this day showed that a green-red alliance exists and its goal is to cause early parliamentary elections,” said the leader of the Democratic Party (PDM) Marian Lupu. He added that the Democrats will now think carefully weather to form an alliance or not with those who violated the Constitution.

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Jean-Claude Mignon urged the political forces of Moldova to leave the party and personal interests aside so as not to endanger the European aspirations of the people. The PACE expressed readiness to facilitate the dialogue between different political parties.

Leanca proposed for premiership

On May 14, the PLDM put forward Iurie Leanca for the post of Prime Minister. On May 16, the party announced that it prepared a political agreement on the constitution of the Pro-European Coalition. Under this accord, the coalition included an Assembly, a Leaders’ Meeting, a Council and a Parliamentary Coordination Council.

On May 21, there was held the first round of talks on the creation of a government coalition. The sides – the Democrats, Liberal-Democrats and Liberal reformers – said the discussions were promising. After another round, the negotiator on behalf of the Democratic Party Valeriu Lazar said the Lib-Dems provided mathematical formulas to give reasons why they deserve more positions in the future government.

The Liberal Party announced that it will not vote for Iurie Leanca as Prime Minister. “Voting for the Leanca Government means being in power. We cannot assume governance as we didn’t take part in the negotiations,” said the Liberal leader Mihai Ghimpu.

On May 30, the leaders of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party and the group of Liberal reformers signed the agreement on the constitution of the Pro-European Coalition. The same day, Democratic MP Adrian Candu and Liberal reformer Oleg Bodrug were elected as Deputy Speakers. Igor Corman, of the PDM, was elected as Head of Parliament by 58 votes. Also then, the Leanca Government was voted in by the vote of confidence of 58 lawmakers.

Nicolae Negru: Punches on the edge of the precipice

Political analyst Nicolae Negru has told IPN that this political crisis was undoubtedly a shameful page in the future history of the Moldovan politics. Moldova’s fate, democracy and the European course were at stake, while the politicians, blinded by hatred and a thirst for revenge and mobilized by obscure interests, pushed and punched each other on the edge of the precipice, to the dismay of some and to the amusement of others.

The explanation that oligarchic interests were at the basis is only partially true. The rudimentary political culture and the presence of an enigmatic factor in support of the dismissal of the Government had an impact. The April 22 unanimous decision of the Constitutional Court, by which the decree to nominate Vlad Filat for premiership was declared unconstitutional, was also surprising. It prolonged the crisis in exactly the moment when the PLDM, PDM and a part of the PL reached an agreement and were to announce the formation of a new parliamentary majority the next day.

The PCRM emerged victorious

According to Nicolae Negru, in general the tragedy of such an irresponsible confrontation can be described as follows: the PLDM dismissed Vlad Plahotniuc with the help of the PCRM; the PDM dismissed Vlad Filat with the help of the PCRM, while the PLDM, again with the help of the PCRM, dismissed Marian Lupu. For the political services provided to Filat and Plahotniuc, the Communists asked for legislative ‘services’, some of which to the detriment of democracy.

The PLDM acted incorrectly when it, from a strategically advantageous position, initiated in a hurry the unjustified dismissal of Vlad Plahotniuc from the post of First Deputy Speaker and denounced the agreement on the constitution of the Alliance for European Integration (AEI). But the insistence by which the PL and PDM worked in the same direction was as unclear and illogical. They themselves considered it disastrous and in Russia’s interest. The PL’s decision to withdraw from the government, by refusing to vote for the Leanca Government, is also unclear because, as a result of this, the party became divided.

If we look at the crisis from the angle of party interests, the PCRM and slightly the PDM, which obtained concessions from the PLDM, emerged victorious. But democracy in general and Moldova’s image were in fact affected. The parties that formed the AEI were also affected.

Behavioral changes

It is one year until the parliamentary elections. There is enough time for a crisis to be forgotten, if the necessary conclusions were drawn, said the analyst. The new coalition changed its behavior. It managed to initial the Association Agreement with the EU and is waiting for the visa regime with the EU to be liberalized. Results were also achieved at economic level, in the infrastructure sector. The roads are being repaired. The opinion polls show that the parties started to regain the confidence of their lost voters, but have yet a lot of work to do. Adhesion is lost easily, but is restored with difficulty. This is the major conclusion that the parties must draw. The political games must have a limit.

As there is no evil without good, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca is the people’s gain. Being a diplomat, he builds the relations with the coalition partners and the opposition in a different way. The Government headed by him works as a team, but the final election result will yet depend on whether the current government manages to raise the pensions and salaries. This will be the most convincing argument that the PLDM, PDM and the Liberal Reforming Party are able to govern for the ageing population that depends of the budget, considers Nicolae Negru.

The people gained nothing from this crisis. They only got the impression that there is always room for worse in Moldova. They are unable to apply the learned lessons as the other parties do not inspire more confidence.

Mariana Galben, IPN