IPN on July 17 published an OP-ED entitled “External financing of civil society, government pressure and European integration” signed by expert in political sciences Dionis Cenusa. According to the author, the discussion itself about the imposition of restrictions on the NGO sector flagrantly runs counter to the letter and spirit of the EU – Moldova Association Agreement. The relationship between the current government and the active entities of civil society seems to be worsening irremediably. The new episode of relations worsening is determined by the government’s proposal to restrict external financing for nongovernmental organizations that now take part in the promotion of public policies and influence the legislative process. In reality, namely this nongovernmental segment opposes the introduction of the mixed-member electoral system that is pushed by the Democratic Party, supported by the Party of Socialists and President Igor Dodon. At the same time, the same group of NGOs is among the most vocal critics of the defects of the government in the country reformation process.
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Some 30% of the respondents of a poll commissioned by the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), which was presented on July 18, said the MPs should enter Parliament based on the uninominal voting system, while 24% are for introducing the mixed-member electoral system. Also, 59% of those polled consider the current electoral system should be changed. 72% of the respondents said they heard about the intention to change the electoral system. Asked how Parliament should act, 53% of those polled said the legislative body should use its sovereign right to decide the replacement of the electoral system if most of the citizens want this. At the same time, 38% said Parliament should take into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission and should not change the electoral system now. Asked what the current Parliament should do when the largest part of the population wants the electoral system to be replaced, but the EU intends to penalize Moldova if this is replaced, 60% of those polled said Parliament should listen to the people’s will and should change the electoral system, while 33% said Parliament should take into account the warnings of the EU and should renounce the electoral system change. Also, 61% of those polled said if the EU penalizes Moldova if this introduces the mixed-member electoral system, this will be an incorrect decision. The poll was carried out by the IMAS Institute for Marketing and Polls on a sample of 1,111 persons from 76 communities.
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The results of the last poll commissioned by the Democratic Party (PDM) to IMAS were adjusted to the interest of this party, said experts invited to a TV program. Anatol Taranu, director of the Center for Political Research and Consultancy “Politicon”, said the PDM commissions polls once in two months and the people got used to this. “It is something else when the poll is carried out by a respectable company. But it is known that the one who orders the music dances with the lady. It is a poll commissioned by a political party, while some of the data were adjusted to the interests of this party,” he stated. Journalist Valeriu Saharneanu said the poll represents political manipulation. “Starting with 2013, there have been more signs that the polls are not credible and honest and serve as trajectory points for particular political objectives. This poll is a reply to what the PDM could not obtain from the Venice Commission and the European Union, which the PDM cannot control,” stated the ex-MP. Politologist Denis Cenusa said by this poll the PDM wants to get rid of responsibility. “There are some questions the answers to which we know. There is also the problem of financing on the part of the EU, which depends on the way in which the Venice Commission’s recommendations are implemented. By making the EU culpable, the Moldovan authorities are trying to get rid of responsibility,” he stated.
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The Moldovan people started to understand that they have the right to decide the fate of the country and started to believe that democracy is for them and is not only declared, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) Vitalie Gamurari said in a TV program, referring to the results of the opinion poll commissioned by the PDM to IMAS. Vitalie Gamurari stated that the PDM intends to organize such surveys once in two months and to make their results public. The recent poll showed that the people have distrust not only of politicians, but also of a part of civil society. Journalist Valeriu Renita, referring to the Venice Commission’s recommendations concerning the proposal to introduce the mixed-member electoral system, said the Moldovan legislative body has the right to be creative because what is going on in Moldova differs a lot from what is happening in Europe. Media analyst Cristian Tabara noted that the Democratic Party managed to show at declarative level and by deeds that a political party in the Republic of Moldova finally says what it intends to do and then does it.
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The July 20 vote of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova to implement changes to the country’s electoral system goes directly counter to the recent recommendations of the Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, says a statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn on the amendments to the electoral legislation in the Republic of Moldova. According to the European officials, while the choice of an electoral system is a sovereign decision of a State, the European Union strongly believes that any change to the electoral system should strengthen democracy, be based on a broad consensus amongst political forces, and follow a genuine consultation of civil society and recommendations of the international partners. The statement says the European Union will continue to follow closely the developments around the electoral reform and its implementation. The EU has repeatedly stressed the need to respect effective democratic mechanisms, including a multi-party parliamentary system and the rule of law.
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The adoption of the mixed-member electoral system will bring a parliamentary majority to Socialists and will deprive the Republic of Moldova of foreign financing, said participants in a televised talk show. Analyst Vlad Turcanu said things developed based on calculations. “The Moldovan politicians boast that they can discuss with officials in Brussels from the position of politicians of EU member states. I think the EU will keep us in a state of expectancy and nothing spectacular will happen,” he stated. Sergiu Litvinenko, of the Party “Action and Solidarity”, said a number of recommendations of the Venice Commission weren’t taken into account, in particular as regards the consensus with the opposition. MP Valeriu Giletski said the accusations are groundless. Those from Brussels knew that the mixed-member electoral system is to be introduced and it wasn’t a surprise for anyone. He admitted that the decision about the mixed electoral system was a difficult one and was taken based on geopolitical reasons.
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The European Union will finance the elaboration of the technical and bidding documentation for the construction works within 18 water supply, sewerage and energy efficiency projects selected in the North, Center and South development regions of Moldova. The measures financed by the EU will be implemented through the agency of the project “Modernization of Local Public Services in the Republic of Moldova”. Alexandr Muravschi, acting manager of the project, said the measures will be carried out by the Regional Development Agencies with the involvement of a number of players. Aneil Singh, Head of the Operations Section of the EU Delegation to Moldova, said the objective is to achieve concrete results for the population. There are two key areas on which the project focuses, namely provision of high-quality water supply and sewerage services and energy efficiency of public buildings. Besides the €3.5million provided by the EU, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany will contribute €325,000.
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The cultural facility in Molovata village of Dubasari district, which is located on the bank of Nistru, was renovated with EU funding in the amount of €172,800 in the framework of the Support to Confidence Building Measures Program, implemented by the UNDP. “Common cultural heritage is one of the most powerful factors uniting people from both banks of the Nistru River. I am glad to assure you that the EU is and will be supporting the initiatives bringing the communities closer in the spirit of confidence and cooperation,” said Jarek Domanski, project officer at the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova. Stefan Liller, UNDP Moldova Deputy Resident Representative, said this is one of more than 80 social infrastructure facilities already reconstructed on both banks through this Program. “By working together to solve common problems, people from both banks can gain more and increase trust between each other,” he noted.
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Parliament carried in the first reading a bill to ratify two lending agreements to the value of €82 million for building the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline with the length of 117 km. One of the agreements envisions the allocation by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development of €41 million as a sovereign loan. Additionally, the European Union will allocate €10 million in the form of a grant into the state budget to cover the initial financial contribution of €10 million that is to be made from the state budget. The loan will be repaired with money collected as natural gas transportation tariffs. Under the second lending agreement, the European Investment Bank will contribute €41 million as a sovereign loan for the construction of the gas pipeline. The financing contracts were signed in December 2016.
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The Government of Romania donated 96 school minibuses to Moldova. One of these is intended for transporting persons with reduced mobility. The donation was made based on a memorandum that was signed in the March 22 meeting of the Government of Romania. The keys to the minibuses were handed over in a ceremony held in the central square of Chisinau on July 21. The event featured Prime Minister Pavel Filip and his Romanian counterpart Mihai Tudose. Pavel Filip said the donated minibuses represent very important assistance in the context of the education reform and optimization of schools. He thanked the Romanian people and Government for the constant support provided to Moldova, including in the European integration process. For his part, Mihai Tudose reiterated the support for Moldova at political and strategic levels. In September 2014, Romania donated another 100 minibuses for Moldovan school students.
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The spring-summer session of Parliament ended on July 21. This time again, the MPs gave up the practice of delivering speeches at the end of session. Speaker Andrian Candu was the only one who gave a speech. Andrian Candu said the spring-summer session of the legislative body laid the foundations of the change in the political class of the Republic of Moldova. There were adopted packages of laws that are designed to strengthen authorities’ efforts to develop the national economy. “We will continue the country’s European course with the same determination as Moldova deserves to become a member of the EU one day. We firmly keep our position that Moldova’s place is in the European family, while the efforts we make daily, each of us, will transform the state into a country that the people will trust and will want to live in,” stated Andrian Candu. On July 20 and 21, the MPs examined a number of draft laws planned to be adopted during the given session, including bills to amend the Election Code and the Labor Code and the Government reform. On September 4, the MPs will resume work as part of commissions and groups. The Parliament’s first plenary sitting of the autumn-winter session is to take place in October.
The summary of news from the IPN series “European Integration” is produced with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany and can be further disseminated on condition that the source is indicated.
