Coalition governments and alternation in power could be a solution to combat corruption, Info-Prim Neo director

The phenomenon of corruption in Moldova has its roots in politics, and especially in the way the public authorities use to conduct their affairs, thinks Valeriu Vasilica, the director of the news agency Info-Prim Neo. “If we start from the belief that the genesis of corruption is in 'big politics', then this is where we should look for the 'big corruption' and start combating it from”, said Valeriu Vasilica at the talk-show “Press of the Press” on the suburban channel “Colorit TV”. The authorities are making modest progresses in the process of combating corruption because the initiative to combat the phenomenon didn't come as an internal political impulse, but as a result of external pressure, out of a financial motivation, thinks Valeriu Vasilica. “The fact that this process is seen as an assignment rather than an internal necessity, and the fact that the officials haven't found any big rotten apples among them, demonstrates that this interest in fighting corruption is not sincere enough “Uncovering corrupt officials would make the citizens more confident in the activity of the government and its anticorruption efforts, and in the end, the expected results will come” Valeriu Vasilica suggested that the next government of Moldova should analyze the actions of the previous governments, and this should make the parties in power more responsible. “Also, it would be right that not just one parliamentary party rules the country. Everywhere in Europe there are coalition governments, which, on the one hand, have governing authority given by all the categories of the electorate, and on the other hand, have a self-control mechanism in their activities, including in corruption matters”, Vasilica said. He believes it is impossible for a political party, no matter how strong, to represent the entire society. “It is easier to shake hands on something, say an act of corruption, inside a political entity than in a coalition. So, my conclusion is that these coalition governments and the alternation in power could be a solution to many issues in Moldova, including corruption”, Vasilica pointed out. The “Press of the Press” series is broadcast by local TV channels across Moldova as part of a project supported by the Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring Capacity in Moldova (SCSMCM) Program, implemented by the Academy for Educational Development (AED) with technical assistance from the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX). The SCSMCM program is funded by the Millennium Challenges Corporation (MCC) and managed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) within the framework of the Threshold Country Program (TCP) for Moldova