Local coalitions will give rise to broader alliances ahead of parliamentary elections, study says

The outcomes of the local polls of June 2007 have reshaped the political landscape at local and sub-national level and will give rise to further changes in Moldova’s political life, with both short- and long-term implications. This is one of the findings of the analytical study titled “Post-election Profile of Local Elective Authorities”, made public on Wednesday, October 3, in Chisinau. The setting up of a large number of local alliances will intensify the public pressure on the leaders of political parties to ally themselves in view of the 2009 parliamentary elections, the study reads. The authors believe that as long as the opposition in Chisinau is not crystallised the ruling party will be tempted to employ different schemes and tactics, similar to those used some time ago to paralyse the activity of the authorities in the capital city. On the other hand, the ruling party could come up against a vigorous resistance coming from the district councils that are run by the opposition, which would radicalise the latter. In what concerns the long-term implications, the study mentions the possibility that some leaders of the ruling party could launch projects to modernise the party in order to save their careers. At the same time, the authors expect that the political stability will be shaken and the attempts of applying political and financial blackmail on disloyal structures will increase.