Liberal Party presents election program

The Liberal Party (PL) launched its election program on Sunday, February 15. Before presenting the candidates for MP in the future Parliament and the platform, the children’s choir “Lacrimosa” sang the European anthem, Info-Prim Neo reports. The slogan with which the party will participate in the election campaign is “Change to the Better Comes with the Liberal Party”. The PL leaders criticized severely the activity of the Communist Party of Moldova (PCRM) during the past eight years of government. The Mayor of Chisinau and the vice president of the PL Dorin Chirtoaca is the first candidate for MP on the party’s list. He is followed by the PL president Mihai Ghimpu and vice presidents Anatol Salaru and Corina Fusu. The fifth position is taken by the municipal councilor Vadim Cojocaru, followed by the vice president of Ungheni district Anatolie Arhire. Municipal councilor Gheorghe Brega is the seventh, while deputy mayor of Chisinau Nistor Grozavu - the eighth. The Olympic champion and vice president of the Moldovan Weightlifting Federation Vadim Vacarciuc is ranked ninth, while editor Oleg Bodrug – tenth. The party’s president Mihai Ghimpu said that the PL aims to convince the voters to vote for themselves and their life, not for the Communist Party. He also said that if the PL comes to power, its major objectives will be to liquidate poverty and join the European family. “We will not be able to integrate into the EU with the Communists in power. We must build democracy at home. If the Communists rule in continuation, we will remain isolated at international level,” Ghimpu said. The PL vice president Dorin Chirtoaca said that the Liberal Party won against the Communists in 1989 and 2007. “On April 5, 2009, we will defeat the Communist for good,” Chirtoaca said. The PL says that for the state of law to be strengthened, they will adopt a new Constitution that will better represent the rights of the Moldovan people and will combat corruption among high-ranking officials, dignitaries and judges. The PL also promises to make public the archives of the Security. The party also aims to develop the economy of Moldova by adjusting the salaries to the market prices, stimulating the national producers and increasing foreign investments by creating a favorable investment climate. Moldova’s foreign policy will be aimed at fulfilling the commitments towards the EU, strengthening the partnership with the United States and joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The PL says that the relations with Russia should be based on a parity partnership. It also promises to fight for the removal of the Russian army from Moldova’s territory and to simplify and hasten the procedure for regaining of Romanian nationality by Moldovans. The party also promises to make education gratis for everyone, to allocate at least 10% of the GDP for education and to reform the Ministry of Education into the Ministry of Education and Research. The students will get a scholarship of minimum 50 euros, while the gymnasiums in villages will be equipped, the PL says. The PL plans to increase spending on health to up to 7% of the budget. The obligatory health insurance will cover not only diagnosis, but also treatment costs, the platform says. The pensions will be minimum 1,500 lei, while the minimum guaranteed salary will be 2,000 lei. The party says that it will freeze the salaries of high-ranking officials. If the Liberal Party comes to power, the homes of culture will be transformed into multifunctional Centers of Culture, while the mayors’ offices will be given yearly lump sums from the state budget for organizing the Village Day.