It is quite probable that the voter turnout in the presidential elections of this autumn will be lower, but the minimum election threshold is of 33%. The probability that the elections will be validated is also high. However, there is the shock of 2010, when the referendum on the return to the direct election of the President could not be validated owing to the low voter turnout, unaffiliated MP Valeriu Giletski, aspirant for the office President, said in the public debate “Specific features of the presidential elections 2016: vision of aspirants and candidates for the office of President of the Republic of Moldova”, which forms part of the series of electoral public debates “What kind of President is society looking for? What society does the President need?” that are held by IPN News Agency.
Valeriu Giletski said that if a larger number of candidates run in elections, the voter turnout will be higher. If the filter instituted by law prevents the independents from running in elections, there will be fewer voters. “Those who put their signatures for those who will not be registered will not go to vote,” stated the politician.
He noted that the upcoming presidential elections are unexpected and the March 4 judgment took the political class by surprise. “The majority considered that the President will be elected by Parliament. However, the given elections are wanted and the Constitutional Court’s decision is legitimate, even if it’s criticized. It is here the blame of the political class because Parliament was earlier dissolved and the post of President was then held on an interim basis. But the people think it is better to hold this constitutional right than to witness again crisis related to the non-election of the President in Parliament,” stated Valeriu Giletski.
The politician said these elections are difficult because they are held amid a not yet solved political crisis and a tense situation owing to the complicated method of collecting signatures. The given requirements are exaggerated and groundless. When legislative changes were made, he asked in Parliament that this quota should be 600 signatures, collected in at least half of the districts. “The application of stamps by mayors is another barrier given that these are mainly polarized. The process is thus delayed. Lists are required and it is forgotten who left the signatures. The people from the Transnistrian region are discriminated,” stated the MP.
Speaking about the future President, Valeriu Giletski said this will have enough powers to become a good mediator because we are a polarized society. “The President can offer Moldova a visiting card for investments from abroad and a good image. He has a say in the justice sector. He nominates the judges. It is an instrument that can be used. When he has arguments, he must come before society and present them. A President has sufficient powers to be able to influence things in the country,” he stated.
The September 27 public debate is the 62nd installment of the series of public debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are staged by IPN with the support of the German foundation “Hanns Seidel”.
