The external development partners of Moldova have two wishes. They want profound transformations to start in Moldova and they also want at least ostensible pro-European elites to remain in power. But the development partners can only propose and support the country. They cannot do reforms themselves, Nicolae Afanas, head of the Faculty of International Relations of the Institute of International Relations of Moldova, said in an interview for Radio Free Europe, quoted by IPN.
“There were always two positions in Moldova – our officials supported all the messages that came from the development partner at declarative level. But when they have to implement larger and smaller projects, they encounter problems. I refer first of all to corruption fighting, the justice sector reform and the reform of the financial-banking sector,” stated Nicolae Afanas.
He noted that the problems in these areas appeared not this week or this year, or this decade. The authorities listen to the requests formulated by the partners, but do not hear them because there is no interest on the part of the elites to change the current system as they consider it convenient and changing it will mean changing the elites. This would be political suicide.
“Both the development partners and the people are disappointed. Reformation is a very painful process and it will imply risks both for the people and for the elites. The elites, as a self-government system, can protect themselves from particular risks. In the case of Moldova, this protection from risks means refusal to do reforms,” stated the expert.
Nicolae Afanas also said that the reforms in Moldova are often done under external pressure and seldom under internal pressure. In such conditions, particular reforms will be simulated or some reforms will be launched for obtaining external financial assistance for surviving.
