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| Dionis Cenuşa | |
The signals from Brussels are increasingly harsh in relation to the Moldovan political class. It is ever more evident that the European officials lost confidence in the current Moldovan authorities and would like to separate themselves from the ‘old political class’ as soon as possible. To change this state of affairs, European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy Johannes Hahn explicitly proposed at least three conditions: appearance of a new generation of politicians; re-launch of the policy and cleaning of the system. Meanwhile, MEP Andi Cristea, who holds the post of Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Moldova, openly accuses the Moldovan Democrats (one of the ruling parties) of exerting pressure on him. This incident shows some of the Moldovan politicians’ attempt to intimidate European political players using the same instruments as those employed to ‘capture’ the state institutions in Moldova.
New political class, re-launch of policy and cleaning of system
The harsh, but somehow plain message of Commissioner Hahn points to a growing state of apathy towards the Moldovan political class, combined with concerns about the risks coming from Moldova, where the national interests are abandoned in favor of the private ones, while the Russian factor is on waiting positions to return to the stage. In the main, we speak about a new situation when the EU’s patience is stretched to the limit and the dialogue with the ostensive pro-European forces loses significance. But the recommendations made by the European side (reformation of the justice sector, correct and fast investigation of the bank frauds, irreversible reforms, etc.) are fervidly ignored by the Moldovan authorities that are preoccupied more with the own political games and the calculations of the oligarchic groups.
Hahn’s statement represents tacit recognition of the fact that the EU failed to Europeanize the current apparent pro-European political elite and that ‘a new generation of politicians’ is needed. The EU most probably realized that the support provided to the ostensive pro-European forces in the period between 2009 and 2014 drastically reduced the chances of the appearance of pro-European political alternatives. That’s why Hahn’s words should be perceived as an open invitation by the EU to ensure a transfer of image and, simultaneously, of confidence to new pro-European parties. This time, the EU ties the appearance of new pro-European parties with the ‘re-launch of the policy”, which is restoration of the lost confidence of the people in politics and, indirectly, in the European integration process. Moreover, the ‘new political class’ is to bring things in the system in order, which implies, first of all, the fight against political and sector corruption.
Stifled scandal inside family of European Social-Democrats
MEP Andi Cristea felt on his own skin the instruments of exerting pressure used by the political players from Chisinau in the daily political life. It is also for the first time that a European politician complains without reserve about the fact that particular Moldovan colleagues on the line of the pan-European party (S&D) are trying to make him keep silent by threatening him with loss of political posts inside the European Parliament (that of Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Moldova). Thus, the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) managed to generate a political scandal that is maintained inside the family of the European Social-Democrats. Most probably, the pan-European party (S&D) preferred to stifle the scandal, as the Social-Democrats of Romania did. Even if the scandal was isolated and apparently annulled, it revealed several essential aspects.
First of all, there was confirmed the fact that the declared pro-European parties (in this case the PDM) are able to affect the image of the pan-European parties (S&D), which accepted them into their families, not only that of the EU, as it was believed until now.
Secondly, the incident revealed the fact that the own colleagues intensified their accusations against the Moldovan Democrats over what is going on in Moldova. Probably, the same Andi Cristea leveled now harsher criticism at the Democrats than he did it earlier, when he referred ‘to all the ruling parties’, by what he made the PDM nervous and to take response action.
Not ultimately, the given case showed that the ruling parties, in particular the PDM, seems to be bothered by the Europeans’ wish to see a suitable political solution for the country and its European agenda. But the solution wanted by the EU seems to be undermining the private interests of the so-called pro-Europeans forces, which consider that if they stay in power (the PDM, PL and less the PLDM), they will secure immunity against the pro-Russian forces. However, the isolation of the PDM on the European political arena does not influence at all its position at national level, where it still controls, rather efficiently, the institutions and the political process.
Instead of conclusion…
Given that the electoral foundation of the pretended pro-European parties is eroding, more and more space is freed for new political players. Thus, Hahn’s call regarding a ‘new political class’ partially creates a favorable political context. But it is yet too early to say that the alternative to the current political class that is being built now is really pro-European and is authentic.
Undoubtedly, the Europeans will have to show that they really learned lessons from the negative experience of the relationship with the declared pro-European forces of Moldova, including the most recent incident with the PDM. Consequently, the institution of an efficient ‘Europeanization’ mechanism of new political parties that declare themselves pro-EU is imperative, as their permanent and objective assessment and their punishment for the smallest deviations from the democratic principles are. This also applies to the Party “Dignity and Truth” or a possible party led by Maia Sandu and to other non-pro-Russian parties that will remain on the political arena (the Liberal Party, the European People’s Party of Moldova, etc.). If these aspects are overlooked again, the EU risks remaining in the vicious circle that it entered in 2009.
IPN publishes in the Op-Ed rubric opinion pieces submitted by authors not affiliated with our editorial board. The opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily coincide with the opinions of our editorial board.