SLP accuses government of persecuting opposition mayors and local councillors

The Social Liberal Party’s (SLP) mayors and members of the local councils are persecuted, intimidated and subjected to psychological pressures, Chairman of SLP Oleg Serbrian told a news conference on Tuesday, February 27. According to the cited source, there are 2 types of opposition in Moldova: parties which are privileged and others which are restrained. According to Sereberian, the settlements where the mayors are SLP members do not receive support from the government. Vasile Asimionesei, mayor of Balasinesti village, Briceni, who is also the chairman of the Social Liberal Association of Mayors and Councillors of Moldova, also said that the members of the SLP, who are mayors or local councillors are “knocked down by any means”. At the press conference, Asimionesei mentioned about several cases when he was personally intimidated because of his SLP membership. According to him, his son was also recently threatened by two men who said “if your daddy loves his family, he should better give up mayorship”. SLP members stated that their representatives are told to run for local offices either on behalf of the government party or as independent candidates.