The historian and publicist Gheorghe Cojocaru said that a possible defeat of the ACUM bloc candidate for Chișinău City Hall would undoubtedly undermine the executive. However, if the Socialist Party candidate, Ion Ceban, loses the election race, the loss will provide pressure relief for the government and will bring balance to the two components of the ruling coalition.
"Yes, in case the Socialist mayoral hopeful, Ion Ceban, wins the election, his proposal to the ACUM bloc councilors to form a coalition will stand. In case the ACUM councilors refuse the proposal, then PSRM councilors may attempt to identify other options. If Andrei Năstase is elected mayor, then more complicated coalition options may arise, however, it will be difficult to support the rejection of the socialist's proposal", said Gheorghe Cojocaru in an Radio Free Europe interview.
The historian added that it is not known for how long, but for now, the two political entities, which are partners and rivals at the same time, seem to be sentenced to continue to collaborate on the national and local levels.
"The Speaker of the Parliament, Zinaida Greceanîi, also leader of the Socialist Party, issued an offer to the ACUM bloc to form functional majorities in a number of districts. While ACUM bloc leadership did not respond to this offer, regional ACUM representatives are taking the offer into account. As proof, Socialist and ACUM bloc councilors from the city of Râșcani decided to join forces in the second round of the mayoral election and to seize the administration of the City Council. The association decision of ACUM and PSRM representatives in Râșcani is following the national alliance model of the two groups", said Gheorghe Cojocaru.
In his opinion, once the precedent is set, others will follow in various locations, out of the approximately 25 districts mentioned by President Igor Dodon. "However, the million dollar questions is what will happen in the capital, whether or not the two groups will establish an alliance, which would represent a comfortable majority in the City Council. Anything can happen in the political life of the city situated on the bank of Bâc river, yet all decisions will have to be made at the right moment", said the historian.
