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Anti-propaganda law meant to reaffirm government's loyalty to the West, say analysts


https://www.ipn.md/en/anti-propaganda-law-meant-to-reaffirm-governments-loyalty-to-7978_1039007.html

The government coalition approved the law against propaganda in the mass media in order to reaffirm their loyalty to the West. The opinion was voiced during the Glavnii Vopros talk-show on NTV Moldova, IPN reports.

Political pundit Ernest Vardanean thinks the law fits in with the general international trend in the region. The fight against Russian influence in the mass media picked up speed after 2014. “The law was approved so that the government could reaffirm yet again their loyalty to the West, but I’m not sure the West needs this”, said Vardanean.

Legal expert Serghei Misin expects the law to be rejected by President Igor Dodon and it's not clear whether the government coalition will be able to suspend the head of the state for 15 minutes, like the time they appointed the defense minister. “The Constitution says clearly that if the Parliament votes a law the second time, the President is obliged to promulgate it. If he doesn't, he violates the Constitution and the parliamentary majority has no choice but to initiate the impeachment procedure”, said Misin. However, the impeachment requires a referendum and the people won't vote to sack Dodon.

Journalist Igor Volnitchi remarked that more people feel like their vote won't count at the next elections. He said that there is a dangerous precedent for democracy in Moldova - the party that came in forth at the elections is ruling the whole country. Volnitchi fears other states will follow this example.