Former Prime Minister Ion Sturza launched a personal manifesto called “Let’s Save Moldova!”, where he says that for the first time since the declaration of independence, Moldova faces a real existential danger. On his Facebook page, the businessman published a series of solutions to the problems faced by the country, IPN reports.
“I hope that the country can be still saved if we urgently stabilize the economic situation and, implicitly, the budgetary one. Towards the end of this year, the budget debts will be 1.5-2 billion lei. The decline in the GDP, external trade and remittances and the servicing of the billions of lei stolen from the banking system can lead to a deficit of 20-25% of the budget for 2016. This means inability to pay salaries and pensions and to fulfill the minimal social obligations. Only an urgent fiscal and monetary relaxation, combined with drastic fiscal discipline, can save the country,” said Sturza.
The ex-Premier noted that three more banks are affected by the same illegalities as the banks undergoing liquidation: total shareholder transparency, enormous volume of bad and dubious loans, managerial mediocrity and direct fraud. “Losses of another US$1 billion can be sustained. The losses of these banks could no longer be compensated from the budget, when there is also the risk that the country can lose all its foreign exchange reserves. Within ten days, the final, real beneficiaries of the banks should be identified, the independent audit should be completed, while the shareholders should be forced to recapitalize the banks. If these oppose, the banks should be nationalized,” he wrote.
Ion Sturza noted that immediate measures should be taken to ensure stable and guaranteed supply of energy resources. “Today Moldova is 90% supplied from one source. The internal reserves (of 30,000-40,000 tonnes of crude oil) represent almost nothing. The debts for gas, which are often artificially created, rose to almost US$1 billion, while for electric power – to US$150 million. The electric power is supplied through a wire that can anytime fall down,” said the businessman, adding that the works to interconnect the gas pipeline Iasi-Ungheni with the country’s center must be immediately initiated.
The ex-Premier noted that drastic national security and safety measures should be taken as there is a risk that the visas with the EU will be reintroduced. Moldova became a major supplier of insecurity in the region and is considered a weak ring in the fight against any kind of trafficking, smuggling, illegal migration and terrorism. Sturza asks himself if there are 20 upright patriots and professionals in Moldova, who would want to save the country, who would be ready to honestly work on a voluntary basis during two years to stabilize the situation and return the country to the people.
Ion Sturza concludes by saying that he and many compatriots want to return home at a certain moment, but it will be of no use if this ‘home’ is occupied and devastated.
