The consultations held by President Maia Sandu and the nomination of the candidate after these look like a race that was lost by the Party of Socialists. This derives from the way in which the consultations took place. Despite the earlier suppositions that no other nominations will be made, President Sandu suddenly changed her tactic and this situation looks like a chess game that was lost by the greatest chess player of the country (Igor Dodon), said Veaceslav Berbeca, expert in political sciences of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul”. According to him, the practical game was solved and in a week all things will become clear. The developments depend on what the PSRM decides to do – to challenge the nomination decree as unconstitutional or to vote for the Government proposed by Igor Grosu.
Contacted by IPN for a comment, Veaceslav Berbeca said the President’s actions were probably based on the anticipation that Mariana Durleșteanu will withdraw or will be persuaded to do this. The fact that Igor Dodon and the Socialists took part in these negotiations together with the other part of the parliamentary majority, the Shor group, was a big mistake as they said that they proposed a candidates and things were clear. When they accepted these consultations, they fell into a trap.
The Socialists became frustrated, dissatisfied and confused. Yesterday, they were ready to challenge the presidential decree by which Igor Grosu was nominated as Prime Minister in the Constitutional Court. The PSRM could either dispute the decree or could propose a new candidate, but this should be probably done after the decree is challenged.
If Igor Grosu comes to Parliament with his team, this will be the second attempt to invest the Government. If the nominated candidate’s team does not garner the necessary number of votes, the President will go to the Constitutional Court for triggering snap parliamentary elections. On March 23, the period during which an executive could be named expires. Igor Grosu could go to Parliament on the last day of this period.
Now the PSRM is in a difficult situation from a number of viewpoints. If the Socialists vote for the candidates proposed by Maia Sandu, many of the things discussed in society, such as schemes and interests, could be probably thwarted and this will directly affect the components of the parliamentary majority. The Socialists have a poor popular approval rating in polls and do not want snap elections. They are preoccupied more with their rating than with people’s problems they invoke for avoiding snap elections.
“Igor Dodon did more harm than good to the Republic of Moldova. That’s why I don’t believe in their lamenting. I think they are concerned more about their rating. They are not convincing when they speak about the problems of society. Their rating is poor and they thus do not want snap elections soon. If they had wanted these, they would have caused them,” stated the expert.
On March 16, President Maia Sandu said she took note of Mariana Durleșteanu’s decision to withdraw her candidacy for premiership. As there is no candidate who would be supported by a formal majority now, she decided to field Igor Grosu, the president of the Party of Action and Solidary, for Prime Ministe. She requested Igor Grosu to prepare the government program and to form a team with which he will go to Parliament.
On February 11, Natalia Gavrilița, the candidate for Prime Minister designated by President Maia Sandu, didn’t obtain any vote in Parliament, the first attempt to invest the Government failing this way. If the second attempt to invest the Government fails, Parliament will be dissolved and snap parliamentary elections will be called.
