If the situation after the parliamentary elections does not change, we will have to hold early elections in the Council. Info-Prim Neo interview with the leader of the PLDM faction in the CMC Alexandru Tanase

[ - Last year, the Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC) had two decisional majorities. Would you speak about their efficiency?] - The things did not essentially change despite the existence of two majorities in the Chisinau Municipal Council during one year. Both the former democratic coalition and the present majority in the CMC formed by the PCRM, PSD and PPCD did not manage to break the deadlock for a number of reasons. The democratic coalition assumed political responsibility for the adopted decisions because the existence of the coalition was confirmed by an agreement signed by four political parties – the PL, AMN, PLDM and PSD. If the democratic coalition had not been obstructed by the PSD from the very beginning and the former president of the CMC had demonstrated more flexibility, I’m sure we would have made progress in a number of areas. But a lot of time was spent on interminable and sterile discussions. We feel the effects of these failures today. I refer especially to the draft regulatory decisions that were to be approved in 2007 and should not have been left for the pre-electoral year 2008. Among these were the approval of a new heating tariff and the regulations concerning the payment of compensations for heat. These two problems should have been solved in 2007. As they had not been examined at the right moment, they will probably be reviewed after the spring legislative elections. Unlike the democratic coalition, the present majority did not confirm its creation. This was done with the aim of diluting the political responsibility for their government. Even if they took over the administration of the Municipal Council ostentatiously, the situation is even worse than before. They have the necessary 26 votes, but do not manage to adopt very important decisions for the Chisinau residents. The PLDM faction in the Municipal Council hopes the things will return to normal after the 2009 parliamentary elections. If nothing changes after the elections, the only solution would be to hold early elections in the CMC. [ - How did the relations between the CMC and the Mayor General develop last year and what effects did they have on the Chisinau residents?] - The relations between the CMC and the Mayor General differed depending on the majority that ruled the Council. The democratic coalition offered political support to the mayor for his projects. Though, I must say that we expected more projects to be proposed. After the PCRM, PPCD and PSD took over the power in the Council, the new majority obstructed the Mayor General. The fact that institutions that must not get involved in politics according to the law had been engaged in this wrangle is revolting. I mean the municipal police and SA Termocom. The police, instead of maintaining public order in 2008, intimidated the participants in anti-government protests, stole the fir tree and arrested donkeys and pigs. SA Termocom, instead of looking for solutions to improve the situation in the heating sector in Chisinau, participated in activities aimed at blackmailing the Chisinau residents that ended with the adoption of the well-known memorandum. Consequently, the whole city became hostage of this interminable wrangle. [ - What can your faction and the Council do together to improve the situation in Chisinau in 2009?] - We did and continue to do our utmost for the things in the CMC and Chisinau to get better. We supported the executive’s projects that are necessary for the city. At the same time, we did not avoid expressing our critical positions on the mayor’s initiatives when we considered that his arguments were not convincing enough. Though we had somehow a critical attitude towards the former president of the CMC, we were against his abusive dismissal. The PLDM faction was against the approval of the memorandum signed by Termocom and SA Moldova Gaz. In 2009, we are ready to use all our knowledge and experience to promote the reforms that are indispensable to the city.