Ministers experience additional discomfort in a coalition government

The Moldovan ministers experience additional discomfort compared with the lawmakers and other components of the Cabinet because they were named to posts by a ruling alliance. On the one hand, they must be a team, but on the other hand, they face pressure on the part of the parties that delegated them to work in the Cabinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, who is the deputy chairman of the Democrat Party (PDM), said in the public debates “The Alliance consists of allies, while the government team of fellow members? The culture of political relations in government: manifestations, stakes and effects” that were staged by Info-Prim Neo on May 29. Valeriu Lazar said that the ministers experience additional discomfort because the Government of the Alliance for European Integration is practically the first coalition government. “Even if there was the ADR (the Alliance for Democracy and Reforms – e.n.), no serious pressure was then exerted on the ministers. Now the ministers are in the line of fire and this is natural,” he stated. He also said that in such a situation the members of the executive should act according to the principle of compromise and consensus. That’s why different platforms appeared in the Government for ensuring the functionality of such a principle. “I’m ready to leave the PDM if this will help better implement the reforms promoted by the Economy Ministry,” Valeriu Lazar said in the debates. Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov, who is a member of the National Political Council of the Liberal Democratic Party, said that he makes effort to prevent the political affairs from affecting the work of the Agriculture Ministry as this will do only damage. “As to agriculture, we now have two doctrines – a “pro-West” and pro-modernization one that is promoted by the ruling alliance, and a “pro-East” or pro-past one. We are now not bothered about which of the doctrines is better. The problems we experience are related to our conservatism, envy and the wish to discuss less and to promote reforms quicker. But I want society to understand what reforms we want to promote. We should take risks in the Cabinet or better resign,” said Vasile Bumacov. The ministers attending the debates spoke about the difficulties faced by a coalition government, but said they cope with them and learn from the mistakes made in the past, including their won mistakes. The debates form part of the Development of the Political Culture through Public Debates Project that is supported by the German foundation Hanns Seidel.