Raluca Raducanu, sociologist and political analyst from Bucharest, considers the stake of the new local elections of May 20 is much more important than the inhabitants of Chisinau and Balti think. The mobilization at the parliamentary elections will depend on the results of the local elections. In an interview for Radio Free Europe’s Moldovan Service, Raluca Raducanu said it is very important for the candidates with chances to explain now to locals the importance of taking part in elections and the importance of the results of these elections for the upcoming parliamentary elections, IPN reports.
Referring to the importance of the voter turnout, the Romanian sociologist said Romania’s example is now the best. “In Bucharest, which became a badly managed or not at all managed city, the mayoralty was won by the PSD because the citizens didn’t go to vote. Not because the preferences were for the candidate proposed by the PSD, but because the people didn’t consider these elections sufficiently important. Later, after the campaign prior to the local elections, the PSD won the elections amid the non-participation in election by less sophisticated citizens, who considered they are not represented. What is happening to the rule of law in Romania now is a direct consequence of the voters’ disinterest in elections,” stated Raluca Raducanu.
She also said that most of the people in Moldova now think the elections are already lost or already won, but the elections will be won when the people put their stamp on the ballot in the capital city and in Balti and also in the parliamentary elections. It is very important not to repeat Romania’s example in Moldova because it is always possible to do worse than now, but the people now have the chance to avoid the greater evil. It is also the responsibility of politicians to try and mobilize better the voters or the undecided ones so as to avoid unpleasant surprises.
“I don’t think the struggle is now only between the candidate of the Socialists and the candidate that is indirectly supported by the PDM. The struggle is between the three candidates – of the PSRM, surely of the PDM and of the PAS-PPPDA coalition. Consequently, it is too early to say that the result is clear. The result will be known on the election day, after the citizens vote,” stated the sociologist.
Raluca Raducanu also said there is very big potential to mobilize the citizens for the local elections and for the parliamentary elections, but this thing cannot happen if the people do not trust their power and if the politicians of the extraparliamentary parties also do not trust their power. The lack of trust is now the biggest enemy in Moldova.
