The voters in Moldova before this autumn’s presidential elections can be described as frustrated, distrustful and disillusioned. The country has been managed by representatives of the whole political spectrum, but none of these showed that they think about the people’s problems. Such statements were made in the electoral public debate “Specific features of the presidential elections 2016: vision of NGOs and experts”, which forms part of the series of electoral public debates “What kind of President is society looking for? What society does the President need?”, held by IPN News Agency.
Alina Andronache, deputy head of the Platform for Gender Equality, said society in Moldova is disappointed, bored and does not believe that changes will occur after the presidential elections. “I’m disappointed that the young people also think that these elections will bring about no changes. A lot of people believe that we do not have a political class and political culture and I thus think that we also do not have a society responsible for its vote,” she stated.
Executive director of the Association of Independent Press Petru Macovei said the people’s frustration derives from a kind of mélange of distrust in anyone who would come to manage this country and the deceptions that accompanied all the governments of Moldova after the declaration of independence. “The fact that the people do not inform themselves or inform themselves insufficiently about this campaign, who the President is and what powers this has and what this can do so that we know what to expect of him/her is another feature,” he said.
According to Vasile Cioaric, programs coordinator at the Center “Contact”, a part of the voters, especially the elderly ones, still live with the illusion that a President who will bring things in order will come. “They think that the President elected by the people will be able to do what the Presidents of other states that are not far away do, but they do not realize that a President chosen by the whole people, with the powers given to this by the current Constitution, cannot do much in the Republic of Moldova without the consent of others,” he stated.
Svetlana Rusnac, dean of the Faculty of Psychology, Education Sciences and Social Assistance of the Moldova Free International University, considers the active voters this year are elder, while the young people are much more passive. The young people not even try to inform themselves so as to make a difference between candidates. “The voters are more confused as to the choice between the right and the left,” said Svetlana Rusnac
The September 28 public debate is the 63rd installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are staged by IPN News Agency with the assistance of the German Foundation “Hanns Seidel”.
