Like any party with self-respect we strive for victory. Info-Prim Neo interview with Eugenia Ostapciuc, Communist faction chairwoman in Moldovan Parliament

[- How was the political year 2008 for Moldova and what are your forecasts for 2009?] - First, I appreciate the political and social stability in Moldova, which allowed us to work in peace and do our main job as legislators: to create a legal framework appropriate to the present development stage of our country. Concerning the party’s work, the main political event of 2008 was the 6th Congress (the 23rd) of the Moldovan Communists Party, which took place on March 15, 2008. This forum proved that the PCRM is a modern party, which keeps pace with the times, with the aspirations of the majority of the people, it is a party of a European kind, which has a realistic program, highly appreciated by the prestigious international bodies, by the influential political leaders at European and global levels. A major event was the successful completion of the Moldova-EU Action Plan, and also the start of works on a new arrangement paper between Moldova and the European Union, with a view to obtaining the status of an associate EU member. In 2009, at least in the first half of the year, the political stage will be dominated by the parliamentary elections. We hope that the new year will also be marked by political and social stability. We expect positive developments in settling the Transnistrian conflict, in strengthening the international positions of Moldova. [- 2008 ends eight years of Communist government and two consecutive terms of office of President Vladimir Voronin. What are the distinctive features of this period?] – We have attained a close cooperation at the top levels of power, which didn't exist before our coming to power. This fact brought the stability I was talking about earlier: stability in the activity of the governmental institutions, stability in society. We have obtained the opportunity to fulfill the party’s program, to stop the decline and make progress in all areas of life: economic, social, cultural, spiritual. Having obtaining a new term after the 2005 elections, we set higher-level tasks for us, which already dealt with strengthening what we had obtained. I will not name any figure, because they are known. I will say that exactly in these 8 years, from statements and intentions, we passed to concrete facts in democratizing society, respecting human rights, ensuring the European trend in Moldova. [ What does your party intend to obtain in the 2009 legislative elections and what effects will the elections have on Moldova?] Like any political party with self-respect we strive for victory in the 2009 elections. And we rely on our activity in provinces, where the deputies permanently work with the voters, know their mood and demands. People don't expect populist promises from the government, but real facts, dealing with settling vital problems of the citizens. All the recent opinion polls also inspire us with optimism. Even if we suppose that a part of them are commissioned by some political leaders, the reality is one: the PCRM outruns by far the other political parties which intend to participate in elections. The same thing we can say about Vladimir Voronin, the Moldovan president and the PCRM’s leader, who is always heading popularity polls in Moldova. For us, the victory in the 2009 parliamentary elections means the possibility to continue achieving all that was conceived 8 years ago and that are achieved by our party in a great part: improving the economy, offering new jobs, raising salaries, pensions, stipends, etc., it would mean continuity in carrying out economic and social programs within the country and abroad – continuing to strengthen the international positions of Moldova, ensuring the territorial integrity and advancing on the path of European integration.