Romanian historian and political pundit Armand Goșu considers Moscow has now fewer resources to fucntion on the poltiical market of the Republic of Moldova and to manipulate the voters. At the same time, things become more difficult as there are no longer political positions that are clearly assumed by particular parties. “This means it is highly probably that those who work for Russia spread everywhere,” the expert stated for RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service, being quoted by IPN.
According to him, in the current local elections, no political parties openly assumed pro-Russian rhetoric. The parties considered in society as being close to Moscow often promote a balanced policy between the East and the West.
Armand Goșu referred also to priests’ announcements about the intention to leave the Metropolitan Church of Chisinau and All Moldova. “The Russian influence has diminished in the Republic of Moldova. The Russian soft power is close to zero if they reached a situation in which the Metropolitan Bishop questions the affiliation to the Patriarchate of Moscow and all Russia,” the Romanian political analyst said in a podcast of the Service.
According to him, the priests of the Moldovan Metropolitan Church, which is subordinate to the Russian Patriarchate that encourages the war in Ukraine, are pressed by parishioners to decide what Metropolitan Church they should belong to and this is a hard decision for them.
Speaking in the podcast about Russia’s reactions to the extension of the relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, including together with the recommendation to open accession negotiations with Moldova, Armand Goșu said the Kremlin will most probably react with “bellicose statements” as it does not have all the instruments to exert pressure and keep the Republic of Moldova under control.
