Vlad Plahotniuc was elected chairman of the Democratic Party (PDM) in the party’s eighth Congress on December 24. He was the only fielded candidate. Prime Minister Pavel Filip was chosen as first deputy chairman of the PDM, IPN reports.
In his speech, Vlad Plahotniuc said the team of the PDM is the most powerful one and has the best local organizations. The political project he will implement as chairman of the party consists of two elements: development of the Democratic Party and of the political class, and his personal view on Moldova’s development.
The Democratic leader noted time has come for the PDM to launch a new method of doing politics, given the changes that the people demand. “Not on the political arena should we crowd alongside other parties. We should descend among the people and not look at them from up to down as this is a big mistake that keeps the parties far from the people,” he stated.
Vlad Plahotniuc also said that the PDM will suggest an initiative for reforming the political class, which envisions, among others, the optimization of the Government and Parliament, handing over of the control over the legislature to the people, identification of the leverages by which the people could penalize those who do not do their job.
As to his personal view on Moldova’s development, the politician said this is based on the people’s wish to have a country where they would want to live, learn and work without needing to go abroad and look for a job. “I insist on the idea that our view should be oriented more inward than outward the country. It could be explained by the phrase “Here, at home, in Moldova”, stated the new leader of the PDM.
For his part, Pavel Filip said that 2016 was a difficult year for Moldova. The country ends the year with confidence obtained on the part of the European partners. “We managed to unlock the financing for the next few years. For 2017-2018, we speak about allocations of over €350 million. All these things wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t had the support of the parliamentary alliance,” he stated.
The party’s ex-leader Marian Lupu said the Democratic Party should seriously prepare for the 2018 parliamentary elections. “It won’t be an easy exercise. We enter a new stage. We demonstrated our capacity of mobilization and work. The most important thing is to work each of us in our posts to ensure good things and prosperity. Unity strengthens our force and this will be the guarantee in the future elections,” he said.
Attending the congress, Vice President of the Socialist International Victor Ponta said that since 2002 he has been near Moldova and the Democratic Party. “I think you know best what should be done in the Republic of Moldova. It is important to have a government that loves Moldova more, not other states. I will support and will cooperate with the Parliament and Government of Moldova from my post,” he stated. The former Prime Minister of Romania announced that the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania’s Parliament Nicolae Liviu Dragnea will pay a visit to Chisinau next January.
The last congress of the PDM was held in 2012.
