Snap elections will be the most likely outcome of the political situation existing today in Moldova, President Igor Dodon told the Russian news agency TASS.
Other scenarios, according to Dodon, include a majority formed by the Socialists with either the bloc NOW or the Democratic Party. Alternatively, the Democratic Party is able to secure enough defector votes to create a minority government and “govern the country like before”, which is a scenario Igor Dodon “will not accept”.
It is too early, thinks the president, to tell whether the snap election could produce any changes in Parliament’s makeup. The factors include foreign relations and the economic situation, which Dodon thinks is worsening, but otherwise the snap elections might not change anything, that is, none of the parties would win a clear majority to be able to form a government by itself.
Commenting on the current attempts at negotiating government formation, Igor Dodon says that NOW leaders are behaving “more than strangely”. “They refuse to talk with the Socialists, and then demand top government offices for Maia Sandu and Andrei Năstase, or show up at the consultations called by the president and refuse to shake hands”. On the difficulties of a potential coalition with NOW, Igor Dodon said the Socialists will not give up seeking closer relations with Russia and will never agree for Moldova to become a NATO member. Also, according to Dodon, many NOW MPs are known for their anti-Russia attitudes, for being ardent promoters of unification with Romania and for a Moldovan Orthodox Church that would gain autocephaly from Russia. “Everybody understands that the Socialists and NOW will never be able to govern the country together. Cooperation is only possible for a brief period of time”, stated Dodon.
The president added that it would be easier for the Socialists to find common ground with the Democrats as far as socio-economic issues are concerned. But not so much as regards foreign policy, even if the “governing party has made some adjustments lately, shifting the focus from integration into the EU and closer ties with NATO to a stronger statehood and neutrality of the Republic of Moldova”, said the president, adding “It is possible that the two parties agree only if the future governing majority pursues a balanced foreign policy that seeks cooperation with both the West and the East, based on principles of (Moldova’s) permanent neutrality”.
Igor Dodon dismissed as “rubbish” reports that differences appeared between him and the Kremlin and that he and the Socialists were facing pressure from Russia not to enter a coalition with Vlad Plahotniuc’s Democrats. “Before and after I became president, I have always advocated for a strategic partnership with Russia. And I don’t intend on changing this position”.