President Igor Dodon considers the letter sent to the Moldovan administration by a number of MEPs, whereby these request to give up the intention to replace the electoral system, is an attempt to become involved in the internal affairs of the state. He developed the issue in an international press meeting entitled “Social resonance” that was held at the Residence in Holercani on June 27, IPN reports.
Igor Dodon criticized Chisinau’s attitude to what the development partners say of the last few years. “Twenty-five MEPs signed. And what? Why didn’t they sign when the mixed-member electoral system was introduced in Georgia? Why don’t they say anything about Hungary, where a mixed 50:50 system has been used since 1991? This is an attempt to become involved in the internal policy of the Republic of Moldova,” stated the President.
He noted that the Socialist MPs will vote for the draft law to introduce the mixed-member electoral system in the second reading if this contains four main things: election threshold of 6%, one round of voting, mandates for the representatives of the Transnistrian region and for the diaspora. “If these things are not voted in Parliament, the current system will be kept. We, in the next elections, will win based on the current electoral system and will later propose changing it. We will not shift our position,” said Igor Dodon.
He also said the position of the European partners, who warn that they will stop financing if the plans to introduce the mixed-member electoral system are not abandoned, is not correct. According to him, the support provided by the EU to Moldova is allocated according to political criteria. “Regrettably, during the last seven-eight years, they have supported rather geopolitically the ostensibly pro-European governments of Moldova, but didn’t support reforms. Where did the hundreds of millions of euros of the European Commission go? What is done in justice? What is going on in the mass media sector, the prosecution service? Where is the reform? This money does not go to implement concrete projects in infrastructure. It is used to support the Government,” stated Igor Dodon.
According to the Head of State, if the EU is really a partner and wants to help the Republic of Moldova, it should not impose internal policy-related conditions. “This €100 million is to be provided in exchange for reforms. Why do they involve the mixed system now? Because they do not want others to win the elections. The European Commission becomes involved in the internal affairs of the Republic of Moldova. Or why do they need to impose political conditions?” asked Igor Dodon.
In a letter addressed to President Igor Dodon, Prime Minister Pavel Filip and Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu on June 26, 25 members of the European Parliament express their concern about the latest developments in the Republic of Moldova. The letter makes reference to the Venice Commission’s opinion, which says the replacement of the current party-list proportional representation system with the mixed-member one implies a number of risks, such as the influencing of MP election by third persons who pursue their own goals.
“We would like to remind you that Moldova needs to take immediate steps to ensure transparent and legal funding of political parties and of election campaigns to stop corruption groups from capturing power,” reads the letter of the 25 MPs.
