The fight against corruption remains one of the biggest challenges for the Republic of Moldova in the process of joining the European Union. Although the Government has undertaken anti-corruption reforms, the citizens do not feel part of this fight, and the level of trust in state institutions decreases constantly, said doctor of sociology Tatiana Cojocari.
At a public debate hosted by IPN News Agency, Tatiana Cojocari, who is the permanent expert of IPN’s project, said that the population can be a strong ally of the Government in the fight against corruption, but only if it will be encouraged and actively involved in this process.
"The current government won the mandate on a very strong plea against corruption, but it failed to turn the citizens into a real ally in this fight. It is essential for the people to trust state institutions and support measures to reform the system," said the expert.
Data from 2023 show that 72% of the population of the Republic of Moldova is not satisfied with the measures taken by the Government against corruption. Trust in anti-corruption reforms declined in 2024 to only 13%, compared to 17% in 2021.
The citizens’ general perception of corruption remains pessimistic. "Over 76% of the Moldovans believe that most politicians are corrupt. Also, when asked what corruption means, most of them associate it with bribery, especially in healthcare, police, customs posts and education system," stated Tatiana Cojocari.
She said the fact that this phenomenon is not understood is another worrying aspect. In 2021, 40% of the citizens did not know what the main causes of corruption are, nor what role the institutions have in combating this phenomenon. Moreover, the people tend to believe that the phenomenon of corruption is much more extensive than their personal experiences, which fuels a sense of resignation.
In addition, the state institutions seem to be spinning in a vicious circle of responsibility shifting. "The population does not trust the reforms that are to be carried out. Before citizens' eyes, these institutions are discredited," stressed the expert.
The public debate entitled “Combating corruption: Moldova's commitments in the EU accession process" was staged within the framework of the project "IPN News Agency for Social Cohesion and a Pro-European Moldova", funded by IMS.
