People should be consulted in decision making, not only urged to vote

[Info-Prim Neo analysis of the series “Platforms of Candidates for the Mayoralty of Chisinau under Civil Society Scrutiny”] The programs of the electoral contenders do not focus much on cooperation with civil society. Candidate Dorin Chirtoaca proposes concrete solutions to different problems confronting the municipality of Chisinau and its residents, but included only several points suggesting that cooperation will be established with civil society. I’m almost certain of this as the members of the National NGO Council had a number of working meetings with Dorin Chirtoaca while he was a mayor and they resulted in the signing of a cooperation agreement (on February 22 this year). I know that Dorin Chirtoaca is ready to cooperate with civil society. For me, it is evident that he values the NGO sector as an agent for change. His work was and I think will remain connected with the activity of the nongovernmental organizations to a high degree as he realizes the important role played by them in ensuring the sustainable development of Chisinau municipality. To my mind, Igor Dodon’s platform has a too pretentious or even emphatic content. This makes me think that it was conceived to manipulate public opinion. For example, he makes many promises applying to underprivileged groups of people, who, unfortunately, often believe this game of bombastic, but interminable promises. Given the particularities of my work, I know what obligations a mayor has and I must admit that some of the points of Igor Dodon’s program surprised me as there are many measures that do not depend on the mayor only! He says he will ensure ‘real transparence’, but does not specify how and does not return to this subject anymore. This makes me think that it is a null paragraph, used to create the illusion of participation – a part of a democratic décor thoroughly designed by those who worked out Igor Dodon’s platform. I and my colleagues from NGOs know exactly what Dorin Chirtoaca does to ensure transparency, especially now, after the signing of the agreement, which defines many measures aimed at making cooperation between the Chisinau City Hall and civil society more efficient. But beyond this aspect, the public speeches, statements and promises made by the two candidates should apply directly to the inhabitants of the municipality – women and men, children and elderly persons who should be consulted in decision making at any level, not only urged to vote. [Daniela Terzi-Barbarosie, head of the National NGO Council]