2011 was the Year on the Razor’s Edge, Valeriu Vasilica

[Info-Prim Neo analysis of the Series “Moldova-20! Whereto?”] [Each of the 20 years of independence in Moldova has its meaning and role in what happened in the period and, undoubtedly, in what is going to happen in the country and the people’s lives in the future. Info-Prim Neo asked politicians, analysts, experts and personalities from different areas to pronounce on the main events that took place during a certain year and assess their impact on the country.] [The year 2011 as seen by Valeriu Vasilica, director of the News Agency Info-Prim Neo] [February 17] – The Government approved the antidiscrimination bill that contains the ambiguous phrase ‘sexual orientation’ included among the discrimination criteria. It generated protests and dissatisfaction in society. [March 11] – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Moldova. [May 5] – The Moldova-EU Cooperation Council held a meeting in Brussels, where there was presented the second progress report on the negotiations over the Association Agreement. [June 5] - There was held the first round of local elections. [June 19] - There was held the second round of local elections. [July 4] – Prime Minister Vlad Filat initiated a series of consultations with civil society, centering on the Government’s work. [July 6] - President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy had been in Moldova on a visit. [July 6-10] - The 20th meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly was held in Belgrade, where the OSCE demanded that Russia complete the pullout of its troops and munitions from Moldova’s territory, in accordance with the international law and the commitments assumed within the OSCE. [July 25] - Polish Sejm Marshal Grzegorz Schetyna visited Moldova. Poland holds the presidency of the EU in the second half of 2011. [July 27-28] – The first round of negotiations on the Agreement to create a Common Aviation Area between the EU and Moldova took place in Chisinau. [The year 2011 was the Year on the Razor’s Edge.] It confirmed, possibly more than other years, that Moldova was in a state of oscillation within the system of coordinates typical of a state and society: between the past and the future, the East and the West, the new and the old, stability and instability, etc. It happened even if the April 2009 events and the inertia of 2010 seemed to incline the balance towards a certain side. This state of spirit probably was more evident during the main event of the year – the local elections, while within them – the elections in the municipality of Chisinau, which always marked the future trend. Slightly over half of Chisinau residents’ votes went to a right-wing candidate, who was put in the situation of administering the capital city with a Municipal Council where the left-wing councilors formed a majority. During the period of independence, the two political forces have never showed ability to cooperate. Several years ago, this would have been considered a good result because it points to progress. Now, the lack of progress means regression. The election outcome at national level reveals a more or less similar situation. Surely, some of the political parties won more seats compared with the previous periods, while others – fewer seats, but the fluctuations happened mainly within certain segments of the political sector, not between them. Thus, the center-right parties continued again to compete between them, stealing votes from each other. The state of oscillation was reproduced for a subsequent period, with all the expected consequences. Such a state of affairs has two intertwining reasons. 1. No major changes took place in society during the last few years, which would have generated significant changes in the social base of the Moldovan parties and, respectively, in the system of people’s assessments and orientations. Not many people became richer and not many people became poorer. The ratio of people leaving the country and returning home remained practically the same. The general level of studies, qualification, moral values did not change much. There were witnessed no modifications in the mentality currents. The state of oscillation has not yet created a critical mass for a primary orientation in the Moldovan society. 2. The lack of positive changes in society and, respectively, in the social base of the parties and the orientations of the social groups is mainly explained by the poor performance of the Moldovan political class at the given stage. The assessment refers not to the absence of visible improvements in the life of the ordinary people, somehow objectively justified by the long period needed to implement reforms, but rather to a subjective factor related to the political culture. 2011 marked the lowest critical point in the relations between the power and the parliamentary opposition, especially in the relations between the components of the ruling alliance. From the declared ‘principles and values’ and ‘national interest’ they fell to methods that are inadmissible in the political behavior in general and in the behavior of a government coalition in particular. To a certain extent, the political activity was replaced by hooliganism and political trade. These deviations disgust the convinced supporters of the declared modernization and European integration policies and scare the possible supporters of this development trend, which is often mistakenly associated with the promoters of political subculture. It seems that many people in the last general elections voted according to the principle “to the smallest evil”, which does not bring clarity in society. It is expected that namely the behavior of the political class will remain the main factor for overcoming the state of oscillation in the near future, because the unprecedented foreign factors could not evidently incline the balance. Neither the visit paid to Chisinau by the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in March nor the visit made by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, who was accompanied by prominent figures of the Polish presidency of the EU, in July, or the money provided by the European and international organizations had the projected effect of reorienting Moldovans’ priorities from the past to the future, from the East to the West, from the old to the new, from instability to stability. It was namely the poor performance of the Moldovan political class that compromised this effect. Thus, 2011 was the year of the greatest hopes, greatest chances and greatest worries and disappointments. This is relevant for the whole period of independence of Moldova. Independence brought freedoms and opportunities as well as responsibilities which we cannot yet cope with. [Valeriu Vasilica, Info-Prim Neo] [Info-Prim Neo Note:] {Valeriu Vasilica graduated from the Faculties of Journalism of the State University of Moldova (1978) and the Higher Party School in Leningrad (1990), specialization - political sciences. During 20 years (1978 – 1998), he had worked at Teleradio-Moldova Company. The last position occupied there was director of Radio Moldova International. In 1998 – 2005 he headed the Municipal News Agency “Info-Prim”, while since 2005 he has headed the News Agency “Info-Prim Neo”. He holds the National Prize in Journalism for 2000 and is the winner of the Top Ten Journalists of 2010 Rating. He was conferred the first award of the independent Moldova – Diploma of Honor of the Republic of Moldova”for civic position in the events triggered by the Moscow putsch” (August 1991).}