Press Release
on the organization of the debate “The post of Prime Minister as a bone of contention. Why?”, the 48th installment of the “Developing Political Culture through Public Debates” Series

Public debates series held by the news agency IPN in its conference room with the support of the German Foundation “Hanns Seidel”

Debate 48 brought together Valeriu Muravschi, former Prime Minister of Moldova; Mihail Camerzan, vice president of the People's Party and former Deputy Speaker of Parliament; Sergiu Coropceanu, secretary general of the Social Democratic Party; and Igor Boţan, director of ADEPT and also the Project's standing expert.

The debate was dedicated to the bitter struggle for the privilege to nominate a candidate for Prime Minister as part of the broader travail that is going on among the parties attempting to form a new coalition government. This is a subject that has overshadowed even the talks to form a governing majority, which now seems less important. The novel element is the unprecedented degree of vehemence seen not only among the negotiating parties, but also in relation to President Nicolae Timofti, who seems to be enduring intense pressure to nominate a certain candidate. When we look back at previous negotiations since 2009, we can see that the rivalries around the post of PM were generally kept out of sight, and the struggle rather was, more openly, for the key ministries and, less openly secretly, for the law-enforcement, regulatory and supervisory bodies. We can only guess whether there were behind-the-scene battles for premiership in the past, but now there is a bitter struggle going on that the general public can certainly see.

During the debate, the speakers proposed that the difficult situation faced now by Moldova can be overcome by two ways: by naming an apolitical Premier who will rebuild the system, with competent people, or by holding early parliamentary elections where the people will be people to choose a new political class. Things now depend on the President, who can name a suitable candidate for premiership or can name candidates who would not be accepted by those who are involved in the talks to form the government coalition and could thus force the organization of early elections

The project’s standing expert Igor Botan, executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy, said the current political crisis, which has been a nonstop one during over a year, derived from the behavior of those who declared themselves pro-Europeans and who interpret the Constitution as it is suitable for them. “As regards the pressure exerted on the President, they discredit the Constitution and the image of the presidential institution. In general, they discredit what is called European integration. Today we have an absolutely new situation, when the heads of parliamentary groups dare to caution the head of state,” said Igor Botan. He considers that the early elections are the best solution. “I’m not afraid that one political force or another will win. I hope that the crisis experienced by Moldova is a good lesson for the people,” stated the expert. 

Valeriu Muravschi, ex-Prime Minister of Moldova, considers the head of state should take into account a number of factors when naming the candidate for Prime Minister. “The fact that the ruling politicians do not have the qualities needed by a politician is a tragic one. I mean first of all responsibility and morality. They pursue their own evil goals. What they do is to the detriment of the people’s interests,” he stated.

According to Mihail Camerzan, deputy head of the People’s Party of the Republic of Moldova, the presidential institution is to blame for what is going on. “During three years, the head of state has never rebuked and reproached the politicians over particular matters. If there had been a precedent, they would have now thought that the President would stop them and wouldn’t have gone further. Currently, two-three persons manage the state, while the others are mass players who solve nothing. The struggle takes place between persons, not between principles, ideas and values,” he stated.

Sergiu Coropceanu, secretary general of the Social Democratic Party, said that naming the candidate proposed by the employers and trade unions as Prime Minister would be a solution to the current crisis. “We consider that President Timofti should designate the future Prime Minister at the suggestion not of the parliamentary parties, but of the National Employers Confederation and the National Confederation of Trade Unions. Today the representatives of the two bodies are those that keep Moldova on the development path,” he said.

The Agency published 4 news stories on the debate (see the English version of www.ipn.md): on 17.12.15, “Early elections are a solution to crisis in Moldova, debate” - http://www.ipn.md/en/politica/73661; on 18.12.15, “Igor Botan: We either become citizens or will be human residue” - http://www.ipn.md/en/integrare-europeana/73664; “Valeriu Muravschi: Principle of separation of powers in state is seriously violated” - http://www.ipn.md/en/special/73666; “Mihail Camerzan: President will be appreciated if he nominates candidate without listening to parties” - http://www.ipn.md/en/politica/73668.

Valeriu Vasilica, director of IPN