The war in Ukraine led to an increase in the number of Moldovan pro-Europeans, compared with the number of supporters of the Customs Union, said experts invited to the program “Fabrika” produced by Publika TV channel, IPN reports.
Political analyst Roman Mihaes believes the last events in Ukraine could incline the balance in favor of the pro-European parties of Moldova in the November 30 elections. “Even if the rise in the number of supporters of the European integration is small, as the last survey shows, it is yet a rise. This makes me hope that the pro-European parties will win a majority of seats in Parliament. I think this rise is due first of all to the war in eastern Ukraine. The events in Ukraine influenced the situation in a number of states of the region,” he said.
A similar opinion was stated by university lecturer Mihai Cernencu. “Our people want stability and the European Union can ensure this stability. The war in Ukraine, which threatens stability, alarms the people. Many of those who were for entering the Customs Union started to have doubts,” he said
Expert in international law Vitalie Gamurari also considers that the developments in Ukraine as well as the abolition of visas and the signing of the Association Agreement will incline the balance in favor of the pro-European parties. “The effects of the achieved results are already felt. I think these effects will become more evident in two weeks,” he noted.
However, expert in international relations Nicolae Afanas believes it is too early for those from the pro-European camp to rejoice. “If taking into account the margin of sampling error, we can see that the number of those pleading for joining the EU is equal to those who are for entering the Customs Union. This fact shows that Moldovan society remains divided and is in a search. We must see first what benefits the Association Agreement with the EU will provide. Afterward we will be able to anticipate the success of a referendum on joining the EU,” he stated.
The last opinion poll by the Marketing and Polling Institute IMAS, commissioned by IPN, shows 51% of the respondents would vote for Moldova joining the European Union.
