API director says Premier’s consultations are a sincere approach

Petru Macovei, executive director of the Independent Press Association (API), considers Prime Minister Vlad Filat’s initiative to hold consultations with civil society is a sincere approach. According to Petru Macovei, similar consultations should be held with the other components of the Alliance for European Integration and with the parliamentary opposition, while civil society should play a more active role in this process. Petru Macovei, who took part in the discussions with the Premier, has told Info-Prim Neo that given the political crisis and the impasses faced by the Government as well as the not very productive discussions inside the ruling alliance, Prime Minister Vlad Filat considered it necessary to listen to the opinions and eventual suggestions of the representatives of civil society. “The Premier spoke about the difficulties they face and said that decision making has been blocked for several months owing mainly to the opposition put up by alliance colleagues. There is an opposition inside the ruling alliance whose methods are tougher than those of the parliamentary opposition,” said the API director. He also said that most of the members of the National Participation Council said the ruling alliance should find internal solutions to overcome this situation. “New elections will represent a catastrophe for Moldova from all viewpoints. Therefore, the communication-related problems should be dealt with. This is what the members of the National Participation Council said,” stated Petru Macovei. He stressed that civil society should play a more active role in this process. In the discussions with the Premier, it was agreed that the members of the National Participation Council will monitor the steps taken by the member parties of the ruling alliance and how they respect the agreement to form the alliance. Asked what we can expect from these consultations, Petru Macovei said there are opinions that the Prime Minister’s initiative is nothing else but an advertisement attempt or an attempt to prepare society for a new government coalition. He also said that if this difficult situation is overcome, things will improve. If not, everyone will be affected, not only the politicians. On July 4, Vlad Filat opened consultations with society. He has already met with representatives of the National Participation Council and the National Confederation of Trade Unions and opinion leaders. Discussions will be also held with ambassadors working in Moldova and representatives of employers. The results of the consultations will be made public on July 8.