Moldovans can barely make out anything – or at least to the extent that would have been normal in a society based on transparency – from what the three major parties say and do in the aftermath of the February 24 elections. The difficulties of the government formation talks, and in particular the communication problems involved, were discussed at a debate titled “Passion, forgiveness and reconciliation in Moldovan politics”, which was organzied by IPN and Radio Moldova. This involved the project’s standing expert Igor Boțan, Socialist MP Gaik Vartanean and Bloc ACUM MP Igor Munteanu. The Democratic Party was also invited to participate in the debate, but no representative was delegated.
In an article for IPN entitled “Interest of Gagauzia in negotiations on government coalition: Socialists’ move and chance for ACUM”, publicist Vaceslav Craciun from Comrat reminds of the “Gagauz package of laws” includes three legislative proposals formulated in 2016 as part of the working group of members of Moldova’s Parliament and deputies of the People’s Assembly of Gagauz-Yeri (APG-Y). In 2017, two of them were examined in parliamentary session and were even adopted after being given the first and second readings. The “Gagauz bills”, except for one of them that amends the law on the special legal status of Gagauz-Yeri”, do not envision the essential modification of the legislation. In fact, they only strengthen powers that are already stipulated in the law on Gagauzia. That’s why there are no evident obstacles for the parties of Maia Sandu and Andrei Năstase to bring “Gagauz bills” into their sphere of preoccupation and to adopt a balanced position in this regard, acceptable to the leaders of Gagauzia. This would contribute to partially eliminating the barrier between the inhabitants of the Territorial Autonomous Unit and the current representatives of the right and could become the start of their political history in Gagauzia.
A minority government could resist for several months or even for a year, said the co-president of the Bloc ACUM Maia Sandu, who earlier proposed such a government formula. According to the leader of the Party “Action and Solidarity”, Moldova’s foreign partners understand that the situation is difficult, but they also understand that if there is a minority government committed to promoting the European values, the chances of moving on in the absence of majority support in Parliament would be greater at a time when there is an oligarchic regime that says that everything is ok and it takes actions, but actually does nothing. Maia Maia Sandu also said that if snap elections take place, these should be held according to the proportional representation system and she voiced hope the Socialists will have courage to vote the modification of the system as the new system for which the PSRM also voted brought advantages only to the Democratic Party.
The Executive Board of the National Bank of Moldova approved amendments to the instruction on the presentation of COREP reports for supervision purposes and to the regulations concerning the open currency position in a move to enhance concentration risk and currency position surveillance. The given changes will contribute to the uniform and opportune reporting by banks of the information concerning bank disposals to an affiliated client, which will improve concentration risk surveillance at the bank.
In 2018 Moldova exported $164M worth of IT services, a 40% rise on the previous year and a doubling from 2016. Ana Chiriță, strategic project manager at the Moldovan Association of Private ICT Companies (ATIC), attributes the rise to “a fairly effective cooperation between the private sector and the governmental sector. Ana Chiriță has told IPN that among the factors are the emergence of a legal framework stimulating the growth of the sector and a looser fiscal policy. She also singled out the creation of a national IT Park, an initiative from 15 ATIC member companies and which has grown to have about 400 resident companies today, exceeding original expectations.
Ukraine elected its President. A number of 610 Ukrainians cast their ballots at the two polling stations established in Moldova. Over 71% of them voted for Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The stopping or parking of units of transport with partial or full entry onto sidewalks is allowed only in specially set up places marked by the road sign “Parking” or “Reserved Parking” or by the road marking “Continuous narrow line”. Also, the drivers are obliged to keep a distance of minimum 1.5 meters on sidewalk for enabling pedestrians to move. The given provisions took effect on April 22. According to the National Patrol Inspectorate, the stopping or parking of motor vehicles on other road sections that are not marked appropriately, even by respecting the distance of 1.5 meters, is banned. The drivers who stop or park illegally face a fine of up to 1,500 lei and four penalty points.
Pavel Cebanu resigned as president of the Moldovan Football Federation (FMF). He had uninterruptedly headed the FMF since February 1997. The governing body of the Moldovan football is to elect a replacement at an extraordinary Congress on May 22.
Details on IPN!
