The amendment of the legal framework in the banking sector, approval of the package of laws on integrity, appointment of the National Bank governor and dismissal of the chiefs of a number of rule of law institutions are only some of the conditions formulated in a civic forum held in Chisinau on January 29. The event involved protesters’ leaders, representatives of a number of NGOs and opinion leaders, IPN reports.
Leader of the political project “Action and Solidarity Party” Maia Sandu said the future governor of the National Bank must be selected at a contest with an international jury consisting of central bank governors of EU member states. The package of laws on integrity should be adopted, while the prosecutor general should be dismissed and replaced with a European prosecutor. The heads of a number of corruption fighting institutions should also be fired.
“We must admit that there are risks that endanger the existence of this state and there are a series of actions that must be taken by those who are in power. These conditions can be fulfilled during 30 days. This is a feasible and acceptable term as we should not offer the government too much time as these conditions could melt into others,” stated Maia Sandu.
Transparency International Moldova executive director Lilia Carasciuc said that by ignoring the acts of corruption, Moldova’s European course is being compromised. “The protests must be continued, but these must be well organized. A group of jurists representing all the parties should be formed to make sure that no legal errors are made. A security group is needed not only to monitor the possible provocations, but to also film them,” she stated.
Lilia Snegureac, head of the Center “Pro dialog”, said civil society does not represent and does not support the political parties. “We expressed our disagreement with the way in which the Government was chosen. In the previous forum, we called for the union of all the healthy political forces. It does not matter who organizes this forum. We must join forces so as to meet the people’s desiderata. We must also obey the law so as to demand that others also obey it,” she said.
The representative of Romania’s civil society Sorin Ionita called on the Moldovan NGOs to put forward a series of demands that will be transmitted to the Romanian Government. “At this moment, Bucharest is the only backer. I ask you to help me formulate a number of conditions for my Prime Minister. What do you want to include in those conditions for the next two weeks so as to re-form this country?” asked the head of the Romanian association “Expert Forum”.
A similar civic forum was staged on January 20, when the new Cabinet headed by Pavel Filip was voted in. The discussions then centered on the combination of the forces of civil society and extraparliamentary parties.
