Press Release

about the organization of the debate “Society’s political culture vs the political class’s political culture: solutions for the chicken and the egg dilemma”, the 8^th episode of the series “Developing political culture in public debates”. Series of public debates held by Info-Prim Neo news agency in its conference room”, supported by German Foundation “Hanns Seidel”

The 8^th debate in the series took place on July 25, 2012, and its topic was the relation between society’s political culture and that of the political culture in a democratic society. The participants were George Mocanu, PLDM parliamentarian; Oleg Tulea, PDM parliamentarian; Corina Fusu, PL parliamentarian and experts Doru Petruti, general manager of survey agency IMAS, and Igor Botan, director of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT.

The political culture of the political class and that of society are in a relation of direct interdependence, they condition and complete each other. The participants in the debate explained the advantages and disadvantages of this situation, analyzed the behavior of this two protagonists of political activity, thought of tasks for both sides and about the risks if these tasks aren’t accomplished. In particular, the debaters ascertained that the political change in 2009 brought with it a model focused on democratic values, which was superimposed on a people that three years since still doesn’t share this set of values. “The first gap is between collective and individual values. A large part of the Moldovan population lives with collective values, with a model that doesn’t focus on personal responsibility. We witnessed a political transition, but not a transition to individual values”, exemplified one of the participants. “Both the people’s and the politicians’ mentality is affected by the Soviet period and these barriers hinder the implementation of much-desired reforms”, declared another participant. In the context of this topic, the debaters said that society has the duty to raise the responsibility of the political class. According to the, the fact that society is unhappy and has some demands is an indicator and a lesson the governing politicians must consider and must come with solutions for it if they want to avoid being punished at the next elections.

The Agency published four articles on the debate (see the English version of www.info-prim.md ): on 25.07.12, „Political change occurred on values of a population that accepts change with reservations, debates ” - http://www.info-prim.md/?a=10&nD=2012/07/25&ay=48026, and on 26.07.12 „Liberal MP on AIE: It’s difficult to coexist in this formula” - http://www.info-prim.md/?a=10&nD=2012/07/26&ay=48028, - „
Moldovans have least confidence in others, study” - http://www.info-prim.md/?a=10&nD=2012/07/26&ay=48042, „
Democrat MP: I am happy to live in Moldova” - http://www.info-prim.md/?a=10&nD=2012/07/26&ay=48044

Unfortunately, the representatives of the parliamentary opposition party recidivated by not attending the debate, despite repeated confirmation that they received the invitation and that it was being examine by the party bodies. This kind of political behavior proves once again the necessity and usefulness of the project regarding political culture.

Valeriu Vasilică, director of Info-Prim Neo

July 27, 2012