Achievable projects and electoral lies in candidates for mayor’s platforms

[Info-Prim Neo analysis of the series “Platforms of Candidates for the Mayoralty of Chisinau under Civil Society Scrutiny”] The electoral programs of the candidates for mayor of Chisinau, Igor Dodon and Dorin Chirtoaca, contain many measures that imply significant financial resources and it is hard to assess the probability of implementing them from this viewpoint. The views of the Liberal Party’s candidate Dorin Chirtoaca cover six areas. Money is needed for carrying out the measures described by him. The last measure planned is to continue the project to rehabilitate the public transport in Chisinau, i.e. to completely replace the old trolleybuses and buses. But no solution was suggested for solving the problem of minibuses, which congest the traffic in the capital city and endanger the people’s safety by stopping at authorized stations and by the manner in which they are driven. I think minibuses should run on routes where there are no trolleybuses and busses. What I found interesting in Dorin Chirtoaca’s platform is the approval of applications for buying 10,000 apartments within the First House Program. But it is a long way to go from the approval until the purchase. Dorin Chirtoaca also promises better-paid jobs, but his program contains no indicator that would allow checking later if this electoral promise was fulfilled. Chirtoaca’s program also contains the commitment to improve the people’s safety. It is a good move, but it implies investment. The Communist Party’s candidate Igor Dodon devoted an entire chapter to this area. The Liberal Party’s candidate suggests measures aimed at reconstructing the central market. This issue was discussed earlier and was now resumed as an electoral promise. But his platform does not include solutions for improving management at the Chisinau City Hall so that the implementation of the decisions is under strict control. Currently, the Chisinau Audit Office is invaded by administrative cases over the steps taken or not taken by the City Hall. This shows that there are management-related problems. Financial resources are needed to deal with this problem. Igor Dodon addressed this issue in his platform and this is an advantage in his favor. The PCRM’s candidate has in general good proposals, but many of them were already implemented. Igor Dodon proposes supplying the kindergartens with water, but, as far as I now, they are supplied with water. He suggests seismically assessing the capital city, but such an action was done. I approve of Igor Dodon’s intention to extend the Internet access areas in the municipality and this promise is achievable. As Dorin Chirtoaca, Igor Dodon proposes cleaning the Byk River and setting up playgrounds. The fact that Igor Dodon intends to support the young generation of Chisinau is surprising as it is the Liberal Party that presents itself as a party promoting the young people. I liked Igor Dodon’s promise to prevent and combat corruption in education institutions. I believe only the electoral promises that are achievable, but we should not forget that the politicians lie more during election campaigns. [Galina Bostan, director of the Center for the Analysis and Prevention of Corruption, for Info-Prim Neo.]