The campaign prior to the presidential elections abounds with all kinds of promises made by the candidates for President. In their wish to persuade the people to vote for them, the candidates promise things that a President in Moldova cannot do because these go beyond the constitutional and legal powers of a head of state in a parliamentary republic, the Association for Participatory Democracy “ADEPT” has said, being quoted by IPN.
According to ADEPT, the people are assured that the President will connect their villages to the water supply, will light their streets and will build playgrounds and roads for them. But a President cannot do this because he does not have the power of decision. This is within the remit of mayors and local councils.
The President does not raise the pensions and salaries and does not reduce the prices of medical services and public utilities. He does not repair the hospitals, kindergartens and schools. This is done by other authorities that draft and implement public policies – the Government and Parliament. What a candidate for President can promise is to ensure close cooperation between these authorities.
According to the Constitution, the President represents the state and is the guarantor of the sovereignty, national independence and territorial integrity of the country. Therefore, the President is responsible for the protection of these values.
The President should come propose a country development view and can address messages to Parliament about the main problems of the nation. The President is the one who can refuse to name corrupt judges or prosecutors to posts and can defer the Government’s documents that run counter to the legislation.
The President can maintain good relations with the neighboring states and can conclude international treaties favorable for the country. The President is the supreme commander of the armed forces and bears responsibility for state security, not only for military security.
The head of state can declare corruption a risk to state security and can issue decrees that would come up with solutions. He can initiate consultative referendums on subjects of national interest and names the managers of the Security and Intelligence Service and suggests to Parliament to dismiss them.
According to ADEPT, the President is an important person in the state, but the voters should choose him/her conscientiously, knowing the President’s duties and having real expectations of the future head of state.
