Press-Release
on the organization of the debate “Particularities of the 2016 Presidential Elections: View of NGOs and Experts”, the 63rd 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”

Held on 28 September 2016, debate 63 brought together Svetlana Rusnac, dean of ULIM’s Faculty of Education Sciences and Social Assistance; Alina Andronache, deputy chairperson of the Gender Equality Platform; Petru Macovei, executive director of the Independent Press Association; and Vasile Cioaric, program coordinator at Contact Center.

This was the fourth debate of a 4-installment miniseries dedicated to the upcoming presidential elections, which discussed in the previous events the views of parliamentary parties, extra-parliamentary parties and independent candidates. The central idea is that these particularities are many, they are important and they have the potential to strongly influence the quality of the electoral process and the outcome itself, and therefore the public needs to be informed about these particularities. Whereas in the previous 3 debates the focus was on the quality of the political offer in these elections, in the fourth one the speakers were asked to discuss the demands of civil society formulated for the candidates. 

In particular, the speakers said that the voters in Moldova before this autumn’s presidential elections can be described as frustrated, distrustful and disillusioned. The country has been managed by representatives of the whole political spectrum, but none of these showed that they think about the people’s problems.

Alina Andronache, deputy head of the Platform for Gender Equality, said society in Moldova is disappointed, bored and does not believe that changes will occur after the presidential elections. “I’m disappointed that the young people also think that these elections will bring about no changes. A lot of people believe that we do not have a political class and political culture and I thus think that we also do not have a society responsible for its vote,” she stated.

Executive director of the Association of Independent Press Petru Macovei said the people’s frustration derives from a kind of mélange of distrust in anyone who would come to manage this country and the deceptions that accompanied all the governments of Moldova after the declaration of independence. “The fact that the people do not inform themselves or inform themselves insufficiently about this campaign, who the President is and what powers this has and what this can do so that we know what to expect of him/her is another feature,” he said.

According to Vasile Cioaric, programs coordinator at the Center “Contact”, a part of the voters, especially the elderly ones, still live with the illusion that a President who will bring things in order will come. “They think that the President elected by the people will be able to do what the Presidents of other states that are not far away do, but they do not realize that a President chosen by the whole people, with the powers given to this by the current Constitution, cannot do much in the Republic of Moldova without the consent of others,” he stated.

Svetlana Rusnac, dean of the Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Social Assistance of the Moldova Free International University, considers the active voters this year are elder, while the young people are much more passive. The young people not even try to inform themselves so as to make a difference between candidates. “The voters are more confused as to the choice between the right and the left,” said Svetlana Rusnac.

The Agency published 5 news stories on the debate (see the English version of www.ipn.md): on 28.09.16, “Voters in Moldova are frustrated, distrustful and disillusioned, IPN debate” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79277; on 29.09.16, “Svetlana Rusnac: People in villages vote for fear of mayors” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79284; „“Petru Macovei: If honest President is chosen, this can effect changes” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79285;  “Vasile Cioaric: Voters want President who can bring things in order” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79295.


Valeriu Vasilica, director of IPN