The Party of Socialists (PSRM) put forward former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo as the sole candidate of the opposition in this autumn’s presidential election. This was announced today by the party’s leader Igor Dodon. According to him, the PSRM decided that it will not field a party candidate for the presidential election, but will suggest a candidate who will be supported by the entire opposition, IPN reports.
“We will support a non-partisan candidate, a single national compromise candidate around whom it will be possible to unite a number of opposition forces and around whom it will be possible to mobilize large segments of citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” said the PSRM leader.
According to him, at the meeting of the party’s political executive, it was decided to propose Alexandr Stoianoglo as a candidate and the proposal was unanimously accepted. A first discussion with party leaders is to take place on Wednesday.
Igor Dodon said that the former Prosecutor General expresses the will and hope of the majority of citizens who want a mature, responsible and statist policy. “Obviously, we request and ask for the support of other opposition parties. That is why, during the day, I will also come with a message to the leaders of the opposition parties – the time has come to show political maturity,” noted the Socialist leader.
At the same news conference, the former prosecutor general leveled criticisms at the government and the justice system. “I’m not a politician and there is no political project behind me. But, at the same time, I’m able to communicate with many leaders of the parties of our country, who have not communicated for several years,” said Alexandr Stoianoglo. According to him, a President must unite, not divide.
Alexandr Stoianoglo worked as a prosecutor of ATU Gagauzia during 1995-2001. Between 2001 and 2007. he held the position of Deputy Prosecutor General in the Prosecutor General’s Office, and from 2007 to 2009 he practiced as a lawyer. During 2009-2010 and during 2011-2014, he sat in Parliament, on behalf of the Democratic Party. He took over the position of prosecutor general in November 2019 following a public competition. After about two years, in October 2021 he was detained and placed under house arrest, and then under judicial control. He was accused of abuse of office, passive corruption and false statements. He was also targeted in a case regarding illicit enrichment. Alexandr Stoianoglo pleads not guilty on all counts. In May 2022, the Superior Council of Prosecutors proposed that the head of state should dismiss Alexandr Stoianoglo from the position of prosecutor general after a responsible commission assessed his work as unsatisfactory. In September 2023, the President signed the dismissal decree. At the beginning of this year, the former prosecutor general was acquitted by the court of first instance in the case in which he was accused of abuse of power or abuse of office.
