The relations between the Moldovan authorities and the development partners develop in a normal political framework. The adoption of the mixed system generated a more critical reaction on the part of the European institutions, but this does not necessarily mean something grave in Moldova’s relations with the development partners, Valeriu Giletski, leader of the parliamentary group of the European People’s Party of Moldova, said in the public debate “Relations between Moldova and foreign partners following adoption of mixed electoral system” that was staged by IPN News Agency.
Valeriu Giletski said Moldova earlier witnessed similar situations, when the Europeans had critical opinions, but the relations between the sides haven’t been affected. The critical opinions should be analyzed, but Moldova’s voice should be also heard. “I think more communication is needed to convince the development partners that the changes to the Electoral Code didn’t affect the democratic principles and the rule of law. These things are much more important for the Council of Europe, for the European Union,” he stated.
Acceding to Valeriu Giletski, by this communication the Moldovan authorities should realized the concerns of the European partners. On the other hand, the foreign partners should understand why this is done. The adoption of the mixed electoral system wouldn’t lead to the annulment of the €100 million in macro-financial assistance and of the liberalized visa regime or to the re-evaluation of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. “There are no reasons from political viewpoint to do these things,” he stated.
According to the MP, it is the way in which the mixed system is implemented that matters now. “The change in the electoral system does not mean that the people will not be able to vote. The right to vote is fundamental for any democratic society. When parliamentary elections are held, regardless of the used electoral system, the non-ensuring of equal conditions for all the election runners will be penalized. All the contenders should enjoy equal conditions and should run by the same rules. These disagreements will then disappear,” said the leader of the European People’s Party of Moldova group in Parliament.
The public debate “Relations between Moldova and foreign partners following adoption of mixed electoral system” was the 75th installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that was organized with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
