The presidential elections are held amid the people’s decreased confidence in the state institutions, the deputy head of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) Liliana Palihovich, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, stated in the public debate “Specific traits of presidential elections 2016: vision of parliamentary parties” of the series “What kind of President is society looking for? What society does the President need?”, held by IPN News Agency.

The deputy head of the PLDM said the people’s state of spirit is worse compared with the previous presidential elections, when the voters had a greater patriotic fervor. After the events of the last few years, the people’s level of despair increased.

Liliana Palihovich noted that we will be able to speak about real stabilization of the situation in Moldova when the four powers – legislative, executive, judicial and the mass media – are really independent and these work to safeguard the people’s interests.

According to her, the presidential elections bring a series of dangers caused by the hurried organization of the elections. “Regrettably, the people will be unable to know each of the candidates very well because these candidates appeared 50-60 days before the presidential elections,” she stated. In this connection, the Deputy Speaker said the aspirants for President must tell the people how they intend to defend their rights using the instruments provided now by the Constitution.

Liliana Palihovich said she would vote for a President who does not intend to struggle for greater power, but who would struggle to solve the people’s problems. “I would vote for a more combative and vocal President, for a President who would demand to be invited to Parliament with addresses and would demand that the legislative body should hasten particular reform processes, adopt particular laws and change particular laws that affect a large part of the people,” she stated.

According to the politician, the stake of the aspirants for the office of President and that of the people are different. The stake of the people is to have a President who will really be the guarantor of the Constitution and statehood, who will demand to ensure greater order and more rights for the people. “The people’s stake is to have a President who would improve their lives,” said Liliana Palihovich.

She also said that the stake of the candidates is very different and these can be classified into several groups from this viewpoint. Some of the candidates want to strengthen their power, others want to come to power, while the third want to change the country’s strategic development course by obtaining the office of President. The latter aim to satisfy their own vainglory.

The September 21 public debate is the 60th installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are staged by IPN with the assistance of the German foundation “Hanns Seidel”.