The Republic of Moldova is at risk of becoming Europe’s next security crisis, and to avoid this “this captured state must be returned to its citizens”, thinks Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
In an Op-Ed titled “Bring Moldova Back From the Brink”, published in The New York Times, Jagland remarks that despite some success in coming closer to Europe in the last six years, “the state is still in the hands of oligarchs”.
“Many still look to Brussels for the answer, while others instead believe that prosperity lies with the Eurasian Economic Union, led by Russia. What unites both camps is their palpable resentment toward venal elites. Ask an average Moldovan how life varies under the different parties and you’ll frequently hear that it makes no difference”, remarks Thorbjorn Jagland.
Related to what the Moldovans colloquially call the heist of the century, Jagland says “the scandal has come to epitomize the state’s failure to protect citizens’ interests”. Jagland notes that this has caused external support to diminish. “If the authorities fail to do what is needed to restore external support — and quickly — the country will face serious economic turmoil. Social programs for the poor and vulnerable will be cut just before the harsh winter months”.
Jagland adds to the above the concerns of many Moldovans that Transnistria could become the next Crimea. “The clear lesson from Ukraine has been that, in today’s Europe, a state’s strength and stability depends on its commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea was deeply destabilizing, but we must never forget that the crisis in Ukraine began with the people’s profound disillusionment with their political institutions”.
To avoid a crisis, Thorbjorn Jagland is advising Moldova to “fix the banks” and “immediately begin purging corrupt officials from public bodies”. He adds: “As a start, the dozens of judges — some very high-profile — who have been accused of egregiously abusing their power should be investigated. Law enforcement agencies must also do everything they can to arrest the individuals responsible for the massive bank fraud.”
Jagland further maintains that political interference must be eliminated from the judicial system, and that legislation currently before Parliament which would guarantee the impartiality of state prosecutors should be implemented without delay. “And to prove that no one is above the law, the current blanket immunity from prosecution enjoyed by members of Parliament should be reduced”.
At a more fundamental level, Jagland thinks that Moldova needs to implement the basic checks on power that should exist in any democracy. “The key anti-corruption agencies — the Anti-Corruption Center, the National Integrity Commission and the General Prosecutor’s Office — must be set on an independent footing, with clear powers and genuine muscle. Robust restrictions on party funding will be necessary to weaken the grip of big money on politics. New rules will also be required to break up media monopolies and provide critical journalists with better protections.”
“Despite years of disappointment, many Moldovans still hold great ambition for their country. They maintain that, freed from corruption, it can be transformed. But first, this captured state must be returned to its citizens”, concludes Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe and former prime minister of Norway.
