Dumitru Diacov: Political corruption is Moldova’s most serious problem as it affects all the other social spheres. Info-Prim Neo poll

{Info-Prim Neo News Agency is conducting an opinion poll among leaders of the parties running in elections. The subject of the poll is corruption in Moldova and solutions for fighting it. All the participants were asked two similar questions. This time, the answers are given by Dumitru Diacov, president of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM).} [ - What does the party that you represent think about corruption in Moldova?] - The political corruption is Moldova’s most serious problem as it affects all the other social spheres. It manifests itself in pressure and even blackmailing of the civil servants into adopting certain illegal decisions. The political corruption is aimed at obtaining material advantages, its major stimulus being the need for funds. The PDM has repeatedly expressed its disapproval of such a state of affairs, including in the current election campaign. When many parties spent sacks of money to buy the people’s votes, a question appears: where does this money come from?! Or another question: where do the parties take money from to pay for advertising space on Moldova 1, where a minute of advertising costs 450 euros? The Democratic Party considers that the public television financed from the taxpayers’ money has the moral obligation towards the people to provide objective and impartial information about the elections, at least once in four years. If we say that the political corruption is the use of the governmental power for illegal gains, we see that the fight against this phenomenon in our country is rather a televised show than the expression of efforts aimed at combating corruption. We see in news bulletins how a teacher or a nurse is caught in the act of taking bribe of several lei, but there is no example when the great embezzlers of the public property are arrested. Consequently, the people lost trust in the state institutions and no investments come into the national economy. Until the legal system remains under the pressure of the political authorities, no major investor will start businesses in Moldova. [ - What will the PSD do to combat corruption if it comes to power?] - The combating of corruption for the Democratic Party is a priority of the government policies without which it is impossible to reinvigorate the national economy and, implicitly, we will not be able to offer the people what they deserve: decent living conditions and a stable future. Therefore, we will reorganize the police so that they serve the interests of the people, not of the mafiotic clans and will create conditions so that all the people of the country, regardless of the posts held, are equal in front of the law. In the legal system, all the judges, prosecutors and employees of the law enforcement bodies will be tested on corruptibility, knowledge of deontological principles and professional qualifications. The illegal businesses and transactions and the use of public resources for personal interests endanger the existence of our state. For that reason, the PDM will be making every effort not to allow persons holding public posts to infringe the moral and legal norms. The insurance of transparency in decision-making and close cooperation with the civil society in fighting corruption are also very important.