Some of the funds Moldova might get from the International Monetary Fund, if a Memorandum in this regard is signed, could be used directly for covering the budgetary deficit. If Moldova signs an agreement with the IMF, it will provide more predictability regarding the next 3 years both for Moldova society and for our development partners. The issue was discussed during a public debate on the topic “The economical and political importance of Moldova’s Agreement with the IMF and the political ability to implement it”, the 58th in the series “Developing political culture through public debates”, organized by IPN Press Agency in partnership with Radio Moldova.
Former Minister of Finance and economic expert Veaceslav Negruta expects that more international financing for Moldova could be unfrozen by the end of October, when a decision regarding the signing of the IMF Memorandum with Moldova will be taken in Washington. “There will be some improvement in relation to the Ministry of Finance’s fulfilled budgetary commitments. What will follow, as regards the authorities’ commitments, is unpredictable and we might not get the decision we want from the board in Washington”, said Negruta. According to him, an agreement with the IMF would offer the government a break and a financial injection both via the Fund and other development partners.
Finance and economy expert Natan Garstea thinks that during the negotiations with Moldova, the IMF was more willing to meet us halfway than usually. “The IMF is interested in positive changes here. For them it is more important to have a memorandum on the basis of which they can monitor in real time what is happening here”, opined Garstea.
Roman Chirca, also a financial and economic expert, thinks that the situation of public finances is bad, but slightly improving. According to him, the IMF agreement is not what everyone is expecting, because the government’s political will to become authentic is more important than any formal road-map. “Unfortunately, the relationship with the IMF is a necessary stage, given its consequences and infrastructure projects that can be implemented after signing the agreement. I hope and I expect it to be signed. I am also worried about how it will be implemented and about its importance as a stage of transition”, said Chirca.
IPN’s permanent expert Igor Botan is optimistic, as he feels the government is cornered and has no choice but to accept IMF conditions. “I am in favor of these harsh conditions if this is the price for getting Moldova out of this slump and for pushing out the current political leaders because of these reforms that must be done for the good of Moldova. It would be the honest thing to do for them and for us”, said Botan.
The public debate about “The economical and political importance of Moldova’s Agreement with the IMF and the political ability to implement it” was the 58th in the IPN series “Developing political culture through public debates”, organized with the support of German Foundation Hanns Seidel.
