After President Igor Dodon on April 18 suggested introducing the mixed-member electoral system, a number of parties reacted. Most of these consider the mixed system is actually the target of the Democratic Party and the President’s proposal appeared as a result of an agreement between Igor Dodon and the leader of the PDM Vlad Plahotniuc, who proposed the majority electoral system, and the mixed one will be accepted as an “alternative”, IPN reports.
In a press release, the Party of Communists says the public opinion, experts, politologist and the political class became ready for such a twist long ago. Dodon and Plahotniuc reached an agreement to obtain the introduction of the mixed electoral system. This time again, the Communists will not obey the rules of the game imposed by the duo of allies PDM – PSRM. The PCRM considers the creation of an anti-oligarchic front that started to take shape following the signing of the joint statement against any electoral reform should be continued.
Andrei Nastase, chairman of the Party “Platform Dignity and Truth”, said the mixed system is the maximum target of the oligarch, which is the lifebuoy agreed already with Dodon. President Dodon knows well what will happen to him when the PPPDA comes to power – together with Plahotniuc, he will analyze his deeds in jail. “Their common agenda that is different from that of the people and the country derives from here. The permission to pronounce his name given by Plahotniuc to Dodon also derives from here,” said Nastase.
Leader of the Our Party Renato Usatyi said Igor Dodon is trying to present the proposal to introduce the mixed-member electoral system as if it belongs to him, but the mixed system is actually the goal of Vlad Plahotniuc. “Today Igor Dodon, as the advocate for Plahotniuc, proposed the mixed electoral system, making thus his biggest mistake in his political career,” said the leader of the PPPN. He requested to immediately convene the party’s National Council after the Easter holidays and to start consultations with all the parties that are really of opposition so as to decide the future actions.
Leader of the Party “Action and Solidarity” Maia Sandu wrote on Facebook that the replacement of the electoral system is the main preoccupation of Plahotniuc and Dodon. “These politicians are not preoccupied with the high level of corruption, the low living standards of people, the fact that many citizens have to leave the country because of poverty. These politicians have a common goal – to remain in power at any cost so as to continue to steal public money, bypassing justice,” wrote Maia Sandu. According to her, the changing of the rules of the game does not advantage the citizens when the state institutions do not ensure the observance of these rules. Therefore, the replacement of the electoral system represents a higher risk of election rigging.
On April 18, President Igor Dodon proposed introducing the mixed electoral system according to which half of the MPs will be chosen based on party lists, while the other half by constituencies. In a news conference on April 18, the Head of State said he will not allow the uninominal voting system proposed by the Democratic Party led by Vlad Plahotniuc to be implemented in Moldova. In reaction, the PDM said what the Socialists do now is a political trick and an attempt to hamper the introduction of the uninominal voting system and to divert the society’s attention to something else so as to create confusion.
