Party switching, especially the one that is witnessed in Parliament, is one of the main problems related to political corruption in the Republic of Moldova. To combat this phenomenon, the “MP buyers” should be removed as there will be no demand if there is no supply. Among other aspects of political corruption are the corruption of voters by different methods, the method of funding parties and the reaction or inaction of public institutions that should intervene when deviations are identified. In such unfavorable conditions, steps should be taken to make sure the people’s will is respected, experts and representatives of a number of parties stated in an international conference staged by Transparency International Moldova in Chisinau, IPN reports.
Igor Boțan, executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, said it goes mainly to party switching after the parliamentary elections, when so-called majorities are formed and agreements are made behind the curtain. Electoral corruption is an older problem with deep roots. This is manifested mainly through charitable foundations that serve party interests. Another problem is related to the financing of parties and they way in which the responsible public authorities fight the identified illegalities. Society witnessed surprise changes made to the electoral legislation with the aim of generating advantages for particular political parties.
“All these problems, their treatment by common effort can make the political parties, regardless of the place they occupy on the political segment, to combine forces to design common rules for everyone that would be respected and would enable the Republic of Moldova to overcome the created situation,” stated Igor Boțan.
Maia Sandu, the leader of the Party “Action and Solidarity”, said political corruption in the country is now enormous and this started to develop not today or yesterday, but long ago. As regards party funding, even if the percentage of those who make donations to a party is very small compared with the percentage in developed states, this is important because the people started to realize that this way they can contribute to the independence of a party from those who are corrupt. The government places obstacles to the financing of opposition parties – the functionaries risk being penalized, the businesspeople face being inspected, while the people from the diaspora are banned from making donations.
Communist MP Elena Bodnarenko said the Party of Communists was the one that created the National Anticorruption Center, based on a U.S. corruption fighting practice. The party enabled the opposition to manage important institutions, such as the Central Election Commission and the Broadcasting Coordination Council. Despite the mistakes made then, most of the citizens say that period was more successful and effective. An attempt to combine forces was made when a number of parties united against the amendment of the electoral system, including by supporting the referendum on the annulment of the mixed electoral system.
Andrei Năstase, leader of the Party “Dignity and Truth Platform”, said both corruption and impunity became international problems and those who struggle for clean states, free from corruption should unite forces, including with the European institutions and institutions from overseas.
Tudor Deliu, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, noted the PLDM was affected by party switching most seriously as it entered Parliament with 23 MPs, but now has only five. The Lib-Dems for several times asked to question in Parliament the prosecutor general and representatives of other state institutions, but the representatives of the power rejected such approaches. From institutional viewpoint, there are laws, strategies, the prosecution service and agencies, but their efficiently is practically equal to zero.
The Liberal Party’s deputy president Valeriu Munteanu stated the Liberals are for Moldova’s union with Romania that is a NATO and EU member state. This way, many of the raised problems would be solved. But this cannot happen soon and measures should be thus taken to step up the fight against corruption and for freedom.
The international conference entitled “Combining forces against impunity and political corruption” was organized with financial support from the National Endowment for Democracy. Representatives of nine parties were invited to the even, but only seven parties accepted the invitation.
