Press Release

about the organization of the debate “The weapon, the art and the burden of political compromise”, the 7^th episode of the series “Developing political culture in public debates”. Series of public debates held by Info-Prim Neo news agency in its conference room”, supported by German Foundation “Hanns Seidel”

The seventh debate in the series took place on July 23, 2012, and its topic was the art of political compromise as a mandatory element of political culture in a democratic society. The participants were Dumitru Diacov, head of PDM’s parliamentary group; Ghenadie Ciobanu, PLDM parliamentarian; Valeriu Munteanu, member of the PL parliamentary group; Artur Resetnicov, PCRM parliamentarian and experts Ion Tabarta, deputy director of the Institute of Political Analysis and Consultancy “Politicon” and Igor Botan, director of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT.

The core messages focused on ideas accepted basically by all the participants in the debate, who represented both the governing and the opposition parliamentary parties. The majority agreed that the elected officials need to reach a compromise, regardless of the side they are on- opposition or government, although some Moldovan parties are open to a consensus, while others are less so and place themselves on extremes. Another shared idea concerned the necessity of the art of political compromise in strategic matters like the development path or the geopolitical orientation. However, there were also voices that political compromise between some sections of the political spectrum is impossible. Project experts think that there are chances for a political compromise in Moldova in matters of national interest and suggested some solutions in this regard: “The first solution is for AIE to govern the country better than the Communists have for 8 years. Opinions in society are divided: 37% say that the Communists governed better and 30% say that the Alliance did it better. The difference isn’t big. Another solution is in debates, and the project launched by Info-Prim Neo is a proper one”, declared expert Igor Botan.

One of the achievements of the project, confirmed by this debate, is that participants from all parliamentary groups accept to participate, even though in public life these parties cannot communicate in civilized manner.

Besides the debate itself, the Agency published four articles promoting the ideas discussed during the debate (see the English version of www.info-prim.md ): on 23.07.12, „Government will achieve nothing without compromise, debates” - http://www.info-prim.md/?a=10&nD=2012/07/23&ay=47974, on 24.07.12 „Dumitru Diacov: I was against it, but I voted” - http://www.info-prim.md/?a=10&nD=2012/07/24&ay=47975, on 25.07.12 - „I want a voter pool that aspires to prosperity, Lib-Dem MP” - http://www.info-prim.md/?a=10&nD=2012/07/25&ay=48002, on 25.05.12 „Sincerity and tricks in compromises between government and opposition” - http://www.info-prim.md/?a=10&nD=2012/07/25&ay=48003

Another encouraging thing was the fact that after 1.5 hours of debates, all the participants stayed to continue the discussion at the “peacemaking” coffee break.

Valeriu Vasilică, director of Info-Prim Neo

July 25, 2012