Moldovan society became more informed, while manipulation veiled, analyst

Moldovan society has changed since 2009, especially as regards the freedom of expression and the sources of information, but the same sources of information continue to manipulate the people for the politicians’ benefit. But the manipulation is now veiled, considers political analyst Viorel Cibotaru, director of the European Institute of Political Studies of Moldova. Asked by Info-Prim Neo to pronounce on Prime Minister Vlad Filat’s assertion that the Moldovans became more active, more critical and more open, the analyst said that the legislation on the freedom of expression was adopted and it started to be implemented. “Society has a say now. There are procedures for exerting pressure on the authorities. The people are no longer afraid to state their opinions. I mean the experts, jurists and the ordinary people, who are not afraid to criticize the government,” he said. According to Viorel Cibotaru, the fact that the population is more active and uses more sources of information does not mean that manipulation disappeared. It only became more disguised than until 2009. The politicians continue to manipulate, but do it more attentively. Ion Tabarata, deputy head of the Strategic Researches and Political Consultancy Center “Politicon”, said Moldovan society now is different from that of 2009. “There is plurality of opinions in society. There appeared more TV channels, newspapers, information portals. Surely, there are media outlets that work for parties or other political forces. But the people anyway can inform themselves from different sources and this is a positive thing that is felt better in Chisinau, but is felt in rural areas too,” he said, adding that the people now know more about what’s going on in the country than four years ago. Both of the experts said that now civil society is more active and becomes involved in decision making.