The presidential elections in Moldova cannot meet the expectations of society and of the country’s development partners, journalist Lilia Burakovski, TV presenter, stated in IPN’s public debate “Autumn of elections: expectations and challenges in European development context”.

“The Constitutional Court’s decision of March 4, 2016 (by which the direct election of the President was restored, IPN note) should have been first annulled so that we do not spend money on this stupidity given the powers enjoyed by the President of the Republic of Moldova,” stated the journalist.

“Ultimately, our citizens see in the Presidents persons who are able to arrange things so that they function for the people’s benefit. Many cannot understand that our President does not have such prerogatives and the syrupy formulations of the incumbent President, like “on the initiative of the President, the parliamentary group of the Party of Socialists..."- cannot be used for ever.

“Furthermore, before the upcoming elections we can speak about the country’s economic development, modernization of agriculture and meeting of the challenges of the 20th century in the education sector. We will rather discuss who is to blame and where to take money from. This does not solve any of our people’s problems. This is the second reason for which the November 1 elections will not meet the expectations.”

According to Lilia Burakovski, the politicians do not try to change this situation. They are preoccupied with the “love for themselves” and start to believe that there is no one better than they and try to persuade the citizens of this too. “Namely in such moments, we, the voters, forget about corruption and forget that Vlad Plahotniuc left the country a year and a half ago, but his cause continues to live. Even the prosecutor general admits that he cannot advance the case related to Metalferos because this case is handled by judges of Plahotniuc.”

The public debate “Autumn of elections: expectations and challenges in European development context” was held as part of the project “Overcoming stereotypes of European integration through communication” that is implemented with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation.