In an article for IPN, politologist Dionis Cenușa presents ten forecasts for 2019, saying that depending on the results of the elections of this February, Moldova’s European agenda will be redefined. This way, the speed of reforms could be again accelerated or the reform priorities will be changed. In case of the scenario when the DPM remains in power, the taste for reforms according to the Association Agreement could return, but this would not also mean profoundness in reforms, stated Dionis Cenușă.
His tenth forecast is that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine will escalate. He is convinced that the Kremlin will not renounce the measures to exclude Ukraine from the Sea of Azov and the Black Seas and this would affect the economy of the regions with access to the sea and could increase their dissatisfaction with the central authorities of Ukraine. The expanding poverty in Russian society, which affects 13-22% of the citizens of Russia, will increase the external aggressiveness of the regime of Vladimir Putin.
The president of the Conflict Prevention & Early Warning Center Iulian Chifu said 2019 is expected to be very difficult for the Republic of Moldova. The foreign policy analyst considers the holding of free, fair and transparent elections without accidents like the removal of competitors or an annulment by courts is the main condition for the reconnection with the EU.
The president of the Party “Action and Solidarity” (PAS) Maia Sandu will run in constituency No. 50 that covers diaspora at the West, while the leader of the Party “Dignity and Truth Platform” (PPPDA) Andrei Năstase will run in constituency No. 33 that includes Chisinau and suburban localities. The electoral bloc ACUM on January 2 presented the list of candidates in single-member constituencies.
“We have a very good, solid team that together with all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who want the country and the people to live well, will show power and courage and will emerge victorious. We will win a victory together,” Maia Sandu, co-president of the bloc ACUM, told a news conference.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) registered the candidates for MP in the national constituency of the Democratic Party of Moldova PDM. The list includes 53 candidates, 45% (24) of whom are women, while 55% (29) are men.
The CEC also registered the candidates of the Party of Socialists (PSRM) who will run in the national constituency in the parliamentary elections of February 24, 2019. The list was approved with 54 candidates, not with 55 as it was submitted initially.
A Call Center with the phone number (+373) 22 880101 for the parliamentary elections and the national consultative referendum of February 24, 2019 was launched on January 2. The Call Center will have 30 operators and will work from Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm. During February 23-25, 2019 it will work round-the-clock.
The proper organization of the Family Year in Moldova is one of the tasks discussed by President Igor Dodon with the chiefs of divisions of the President’s stuff. Among the current tasks and future objectives noted are the celebration of the 660th anniversary of the foundation of Moldavia and the organization of Moldova’s Year in the Russian Federation. “A lot of work is to be done, but we will manage to do everything by common efforts,” Igor Dodon wrote on his Facebook page.
In an interview for Radio Free Europe, Olesea Perean, national human rights officer at the UN Office in Chisinau, said problems in 2018 were experienced in ensuring the rights of minorities and persons with disabilities and some of the civic activists who promote human rights were the targets of media denigration campaigns. There were also particular positive developments, such as the adoption of the national human right action plan in May and the creation of the national council for human rights.
Details on IPN!
