Press-Release
on the organization of the election debate “What kind of President is society looking for? What kind of society does the President need?”, the 65^th 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 19 October 2016, debate 65 brought together MP Grigore Novac, surrogate for Socialist candidate Igor Dodon; independent candidate Silvia Radu; and independent candidate Valeriu Ghileţchi. 

The same rules applied for this debate as for the previous one, which was held the day before, including: the call for a calm and constructive discussion so that the speakers’ messages could reach the public more effectively, and the presence of an assistant moderator placed in the audience to solicit clarifications and ask questions whenever needed.

As a general perception, this debate was a little bit rougher than the previous one. To some extent, this was in line with the general tendencies of how electoral communication has been constructed during the 2016 presidential race. However, the moderators ensured that things did not degenerate into wrangle, as was the case in many other public spaces.

Presenting the platform of candidate Igor Dodon, Grigore Novac said this is based on the most acute problems faced by the country. “Our economy is destroyed and things worsen daily. The social system – pensions, salaries and scholarships – do not cover at least the minimum subsistence level. Serious attacks are made on statehood, the national values and Moldova as a state by all kind of organizations financed from outside our borders,” he stated.

Asked by other candidates who took part in the debate if Igor Dodon believes that the European standards and the provisions of the Association Agreement with the EU are detrimental to Moldova, Grigore Novac noted that a difference should be made between the termination and revision of the accord. “Igor Dodon spoke about revision. The Association Agreement with the EU contains good, but also really damaging provisions. Why shouldn’t we return to the asymmetric trade with the EU? Some of the provisions must be reviewed,” said the MP.

“The country needs an independent and upright President. We must not be divided depending on our affiliation to the right or the left, our ethnicity or the spoken language. We must combine forces. No person should be left outside the cohesion process. The Republic of Moldova must be a state that works for the benefit of the people,” said Silvia Radu.

The candidate promised she will be a President who will work to promote the interests of the country and to stimulate the economic development and will demand that the state institutions should be managed by independent and upright persons who represent not a party or a group of interests, but the people because their salaries include taxes paid by the people.

During the debate, Valeriu Giletski was accused by the representative of his opponent Igor Dodon of not taking measures against those who profane the Christian values of the Republic of Moldova. “Maybe, unlike Mister Dodon, I aim to be a pro, not an anti President. I’m the MP who proposed instituting the Holiday of Family. To promote the values of the family, one must not come out and protest against someone,” he stated.

The candidate was asked how he considers corruption should be rooted out. He said the fight against corruption is within the competence of the judiciary, while the President, who names the judges, must thoroughly examine the files of all the judges. Programs of education in the family, at school and in church are needed. “If we do not educate a new generation whose DNA will have less place for this component of corruption, we will be unable to get rid of it for many years. We must act in the short run, with justice, and also in the long run, with education programs,” stated Valeriu Giletski.

The Agency published 6 news stories on the debate (see the English version of www.ipn.md): on 19.10.16, “Silvia Radu: Country has chance to elect President for one and all” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79709; “Valeriu Giletski: Moldova needs peace” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79710; “Grigore Novac: Igor Dodon will be the guarantor of Constitution” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79711; “Silvia Radu: If you elect me President, I will make effort for country to prosper” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79713; “Valeriu Giletski calls on people to go and vote on October 30” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79714; “Igor Dodon has best team and is best candidate for President, statement” - http://www.ipn.md/en/arhiva/79715.
 

Valeriu Vasilica, director of IPN