Members of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) accuse the Democratic Party (PDM) of exerting pressure on the local public authorities, including by politicizing the provision of public financing for local projects. In a news conference at IPN, the leadership of the PLDM presented a number of cases when mayors and party members are intimidated and pressed to defect the party to the PDM.

The chairman of the PLDM Viorel Cibotaru said the party is concerned about the destruction of the local public administration by the Democratic Party. The European Parliament’s mission that is to arrive in Chisinau in several days will be able to gather information about the cases of intimidation of mayors from the first source. The concern is amplified by the upcoming new mayoral elections that will take place in Chisinau and Balti municipalities and in other communities on May 20 as by these they launched the process of disbanding the local public administration and of bringing the local public authorities elected on the tickets of some of the parties in 2015 under the control of the Democratic Party.

Mayor of Cimislia Gheorghe Raileanu told the same news conference that on the Day of Local Autonomy celebrated on February 1, the Premier said 600 mayors represent the Democratic Party. This figure is almost twice larger than the number of mayors elected on the lists of the PDM in 2015. This means that by different methods, many of the mayors were forced or lured to join the PDM. It is not only about the Liberal-Democratic mayors. The mayors are either threatened with criminal cases or lured with money provided for the community, for the road rehabilitation program for example. Some of the communities got by 4 million lei for the purpose, while others nothing.

Spokesman for the PLDM Ion Terguta spoke about the case of mayor of Hansca village of Ialoveni district Elena Mosnegutu. The mayor was openly told that if she wants a road to be built in their village, she must leave the PLDM. As a bonus, a playground was to be constructed with the financial support of the foundation managed by the leader of the PDM. The situation was similar in Serpeni village of Anenii Noi district, where the mayor is on the way of leaving the PLDM for the same reasons.

Ion Terguta also referred to the case of mayor of Dereneu village of Calarasi district Elena Oaserele, who faces enormous pressure. The locals are terrorized by the police that block their access to the local church that last August joined the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia. The mayor and the priest presented to the party a large file that contains applications from locals who say that they want their church to form part of the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia and want the bishop to remain the same. This is a strictly religious matter and the police should not intervene.

Another case to which reference was made is that of the mayor of Ghelauza village of Straseni district Nicoleta Malai, who was arrested on charges of tender contest rigging. According to Ion Terguta, even if the mayor does not represent the PLDM, the party took a position as the way in which Nicoleta Malai is treated is inacceptable. This was obliged to appear before the judge who was to decide on the extension or annulment of the house arrest. At the same time, she was issued with a summons to present herself at the prosecutor’s office the same day and at the same hour. Nicoleta Malai decided to go to court so as to show that she does not shirk responsibility. The judge decided that she should go to the prosecutor’s office and, as a result, she was taken to the remand prison of the National Anticorruption Center. The problem resides in the way in which the people are placed under arrest. Most probably, Nicoleta Malai holds electoral interest for the ruling party and such methods are used in order to persuade her to join the PDM.

The PLDM calls on all the mayors and local councilors to make public the cases of intimidation and to fight for democracy. It also urges to put up resistance to the ruling party’s attempts to control all the local authorities of the Republic of Moldova.