With the victory of pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon, Moldova’s foreign policy risks having a zigzag-like trajectory, politologist Dionis Cenusa says in a new opinion article written for IPN.
Dionis Cenusa notes that after almost two weeks of Election Day (since November 13), Igor Dodon continues to disseminate confuse and incoherent messages related to the foreign policy, which this will promote as Head of State.
On the other hand, Igor Dodon promises to keep the relations with the EU intact, in particular not to undermine the Association Agreement. On the other hand, he confesses that he has a pro-Russian and pro-Eurasian attitude that he wants to extend and to implant in the public opinion in Moldova, explains the politologist.
No matter how pro-Russian Igor Dodon is, the constitutional provisions limit his pro-Russian geopolitical instincts that are consciously inhibited. Even with such limitations, he can initiate processes to gradually de-Europeanize Moldova. These can fully and forcefully materialize during his presidency, especially if the Socialists strengthen their position in the next electoral cycles.
The article signed by Dionis Cenusa highlights that the actions and plans of Igor Dodon depend on the balance of forces inside Moldovan politics. For now, the hypothesis that Igor Dodon’s victory is a product of strategic calculations of the current government remains valid.
The politologist concludes that by using a very active pro-Russian President as a geopolitical antipode, the de facto coordinator of the government, oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc, can cement his image of defender of Moldova’s European course.
