Vasile Tarlev: It would be abnormal unless a trial or scandal involving Tarlev appeared

The president of the Centrist Union from Moldova (UCM), ex-premier Vasile Tarlev, says he regrets that “in Moldova often anti-democratic and incorrect things appear.” When asked to assess the country's democracy, Tarlev said, at a news conference on Thursday, that he would have answered 8-9 before becoming a party member, but now the mark would be 7, on a 1-10 scale. “Descending among citizens and seeing what they cope with, I certainly have dropped the mark,” the former head of the Cabinet has said, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. Vasile Tarlev has said he had consulted president Vladimir Voronin before leaving the position of premier, but there were also “other circumstances and game rules”. When asked what has unleashed the conflict between him and the Communists' team, Vasile Tarlev has said he disagreed with the cadre policy of the party and he does not back the idea of liquidating the Transports Ministry. “The international bodies, including the European Union, have the impression that this country does not see as a priority to develop transports, infrastructure, roads,” the ex-premier said. Vasile Tarlev has added he feels “normally and comfortably”in the UCM and does not regret the step he made. He has stated he won't make forecast as to the percentage of votes his party is going to win at the coming 2009 parliamentary elections, but showed confidence in good chances. According to Vasile Tarlev, UCM will not cooperate with extreme right-wing parties, as he disagrees with “some of their actions”, neither with extreme left-wing parties. Speaking on the Bucuria trial, many shareholders of which have recently attacked the Government at the ECHR, as his name is also involved there, the UCM leader says it is a political trial, in which “many politicians and parties are involved,” but denied to call names. “It would be abnormal unless a trial or scandal involving Tarlev appeared, because unfortunately this is the situation here. Hardly someone launches in politics, as penal dossiers start to emerge immediately,” the former premier stated, adding “inventing dossiers is not the best method to fight your opponents and colleagues.” Vasile Tarlev was elected as UCM's leader on 27 Sept.