For the Republic of Moldova, 2017 wasn’t an easy year. This was full of challenges. In an interview for the public TV channel Moldova 1, President Igor Dodon said for him it was a year with challenges and with internal political struggles – between the President and the parliamentary majority and between different state institutions - but was also a year with accomplishments, IPN reports.

“Let say it sincerely that this first year in office of President Dodon will remain in the memory of most of the people as a year with both good and less good things. I think the majority of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova saw and felt the result of the improvement of the relations with the Russian Federation. This thing was felt by ordinary famers, the inhabitants of our villages, why could more profitably sell their agricultural products, such as apples and grapes, and this was the result of the agreements we reached with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin,” stated Igor Dodon. He noted that about 17,000 Moldovan migrants banned from entering Russia could enter again this country following the lifting of the ban.

President Dodon said 2017 saw a struggle between the presidential administration and the Government and this was a negative feature. “I say it with regret as a lot of the President’s initiatives weren’t accepted by the parliamentary majority, about pension raises, annulment of the law on the stolen US$ 1 billion and many other matters. As a result of this confrontation, we had to put forward the initiative concerning the switching over to the presidential system of government,” noted Igor Dodon, insisting that a balance should be established between the state powers – the Government, Parliament and presidential administration. “Despite all difficulties expected in 2018, I’m firmly convinced that this year will be a favorable turning point for us, the citizens of this state.”