Press Release
on the organization of the debate “Starting position of political parties and potential independent candidates on pro-Eurasian platform before electoral year”.  Developing Political Culture through Public Debates”. Public debates series held by the news agency IPN in its conference room with the support of the German Foundation “Hanns Seidel”
 

Held on 27 November 2017, Debate 83 brought together the vice president of Moldova’s Patriots Party Serghei Perciun, and Valentina Bodrug-Lungu, deputy chairperson of the Gender Equality Platform, as expert. Nine days before the debate, we sent invitations to representatives of the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, the Our Party, the Regions Party, Socialist People’s Party, and Moldova’s Patriots Party. For various, announced and unannounced reasons, only the representative of the latter party eventually showed up. A preliminary conclusion is that the respective parties are not quite willing to talk to one another in public; also, such behavior might be indicative of their capacity to keep a promise.

To sum up the previous two debetes: the speakers in the November 23 debate almost unanimously agreed that close cooperation is key, so much so that a common electoral bloc would be considered in order to cope with the new conditions of the mixed voting system and stand up united against the Democrats and the Socialists, who are perceived as secretly working together. The speakers of the November 24 debate were not so certain about the need and the feasibility of a common bloc, but didn’t rule out cooperation in things like supporting candidates in electoral districts, which are a novel element and require particular attention.

Like in the previous debates, during this one the speakers discussed some of the most important aspects of how parties, on the pro-Eurasian platform in particular, stand ahead of the 2018 elections. Economic, political and social issues were discussed in addition to aspects of cooperation within the pro-Eurasian platforms.

In particular, the party’s deputy chairman Sergiu Perciun said that a prosperous state means a prosperous economy. When the state produces and these products are sold, the state and society have development prospects. “We have stagnated during 25 years and destroyed the whole socioeconomic infrastructure of the country – over 600 large companies that ensured 87% of the state budget, all the kolkhozes and sovkhozes,” he noted.

According to the politician, the Republic of Moldova can now produce on three directions – winemaking, vegetable growing and fruit growing – and can sell products on the global market. The European market is saturated with such products that have always been in demand on the CIS market. All the discussions about the European integration are sterile because the EU needs the Republic of Moldova only for geostrategic purposes. The great economic powers struggle between them, while the post-Soviet states have the duty to ‘bark’ when they are told to and are provided with loans in recompense.

Expert Valentina Bodrug-Lungu, deputy head of the Gender Equality Platform, said that any policy in any area should incorporate the gender dimension. “A question often appears: “Why do we need women in politics in one area or another? Can we consider a power legitimate when the women are underrepresented? Today the women in the Republic of Moldova represent 52% of the population, but how many women are there in Parliament?” asked the activist.

Valentina Bodrug-Lungu noted that the women currently hold many posts in the small and social business sectors, where salaries are lower. These include such areas as education and healthcare where the pays force the women to survive. Gender equality means equality in rights, responsibilities and opportunities. The women make a significant contribution to the economy and the development of the state and this should be appreciated.

The Agency published 3 news stories on the debate (see the English version of www.ipn.md): on 27.11.17, „There is no interest in clarifying starting positions of parties on pro-Eurasian platform before an electoral year, IPN debate” - http://ipn.md/en/special/87864; „Valentina Bodrug-Lungu: Women have fewer chances in elections based on mixed system” -  http://ipn.md/en/special/87867; „Sergey Perciun: Europe does not need us” - http://ipn.md/en/politica/87866;

IPN promoted the debate before and after the event, in particular the ensuing news stories, using all the available channels, including social networks. Confirmatory materials of deliverables, as well as a media coverage dossier are attached.


Valeriu Vasilica, director of IPN