The Party “People’s Will” and the Professionals’ Movement “Speranța-Nadejda” boycott the elections in uninominal constituencies, while the Party “Democracy at Home”, even if it runs in the elections in regions, condemns the replacement of the proportional representation system with the mixed electoral system. Representatives of the parties developed the issue in the public debate “Elections 2019: Please elect me MP because...”, which was the 103rd installment of the series “Developing political culture through public debates” staged by IPN News Agency.
The candidate of the Professionals’ Movement “Speranța-Nadejda” Andrei Donică said the Movement didn’t field candidates in constituencies as it considers the most cunning stratagems will be applied there. “It seems to be attractive as a candidate is elected by only 5,000 votes. Not even the mayors are elected with such a number of votes, but this is not real. The Socialists and the Democrats strengthened their positions over a year ago. We consider it is not real to gain much there,” stated the candidate who runs in the national constituency.
According to him, the candidates could be eliminated from the race or even would not have their mandates validated. “One of the leaders of the bloc ACUM DA PAS, Andrei Năstase, would not enter Parliament because the seat he would win in the uninominal constituency would not be validated. Andrei Năstase would gain a majority of votes in the constituency, would concede the place on the bloc’s list and his seat would be then annulled by a challenge related to the promotional leaflets that were distributed before the bloc was formed. We call on the people to vote honest people in constituencies,” stated Andrei Donică.
Teodor Cârnaț, of the “People’s Will” Party, said their party prepared a list of candidates who would have run in uninominal constituencies in one round of voting. As a result of discussions, the party reached the conclusion that the majority system with one round of voting is fully undemocratic and is not legitimate. “If we enter Parliament, we will abrogate this law by which the majority system with one round of voting was introduced. I has pleaded for the majority system with two rounds everywhere – to fill the post of rector, district head, prosecutor general, etc. What has happened in the Republic of Moldova goes beyond the limits of legitimacy,” stated the candidate who runs in the national constituency.
According to him, both the mayors and the Head of State are elected by a majority of votes, but in two rounds. This means that if 20 competitors are registered for the first round, those who poll most of the votes compete in the second round. “We intentionally boycott the participation in uninominal constituencies in one round of voting. I was to run in constituency No. 26 where I have the domicile, but we decided to show to the people that what has been done now is a farce of the PDM and PSRM, which has no democratic cover and has no cover in a state with the rule of law,” stated Teodor Cârnaț.
He noted that the “People’s Will” Party in the future will present a proportional representation system based on open lists and a preferential vote. “This means the political parties present a list in Parliament and the elector has the right to vote anyone from this list and namely this candidate can represent the voter in the legislative body. Through this electoral system, we will clear the political parties of corruption as the party’s leader will fear the last candidate on the list could have more votes than he. Secondly, we will ensure real representation in Moldova’s Parliament,” stated the candidate.
Anatol Ursu, of the Party “Democracy at Home”, said it is not equitable in relation to the people not to propose candidates in constituencies, but it is recommendable to do this in an intelligent way. Their party also condemns the replacement of the proportional representation system with the mixed electoral system with one round of voting. If two rounds had been introduced, it would have been fairer and more representative.
The candidate said the Party “Democracy at Home” intended to run in four constituencies – Ungheni, Călărași, Ialoveni and Căușeni. Only one of the four aspirants was registered. Constituency No. 22 where he tried to run embraces a wide area as it includes localities from three districts - Ialoveni, Strășeni and Călărași. The unionist candidates didn’t have chances of winning in this constituency owing to the unfair competition from the government.
The Party of Regions was also invited to the February 4 debate, but this delegated no representative to take part.
The contestants are invited to the electoral debates held by IPN Agency in accordance with the order in which they were registered by the Central Election Commission. The debate on January 30 involved representatives of the electoral bloc ACUM, the Party of Communists and the Party of Socialists. The Democratic Party didn’t respond to the invitation to attend the debate. Representatives of the Shor Party, the People’s Movement Antimafie, the Our Party and the National Liberal Party took part in the January 31 debate.
Candidates of the Ecologist Green Party and the Liberal Party are to attend the debate scheduled for February 5.
The series of debates “Elections 2019: Please elect me MP because...”, forms part of the series of public debates held by IPN News Agency as part of the project “Developing political culture through public debates” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
