Igor Botan: One year after the elections, Dorin Chirtoaca is in a relatively bad situation, but has a good rating

One year after being elected as mayor of Chisinau, Dorin Chirtoaca is in a relatively bad position, but has a good rating, finds the political analyst Igor Botan, the executive director of the Association for Participative Democracy “Adept”. Asked by Info-Prim Neo to sum up the mayor's successes and failures during one year, the analyst has said Dorin Chirtoaca answered this question himself during the conflict in the Chisinau Municipal Council, related to the questioned dismissal of Mihai Ghimpu. The mayor then said he did two big things: paid off a significant part of the municipality's debts to utilities suppliers and the city became cleaner. Other things from the promised one have not been done, but, said Dorin Chirtoaca, there were plans, projects were developed, they intended to repair the waste water treating station and many others. In fact, Dorin Chirtoaca has not managed much, the expert thinks. His stay in the position of Chisinau's general mayor was marked, from the very beginning, by confrontations with the central authorities. Practically, the mayor does not talk with the Government, and this is leaving its print on the situation in the municipality. The mayor is in an open conflict with the municipal police, and is subjected to unfair treatment on behalf of the media affiliated to the government. It is obvious it is very difficult to work in such circumstances. On the other hand, Igor Botan remarks, Dorin Chirtoaca created such a situation all by himself, because politics in the public administration should stop at the same time with the elections, and then the efforts should be focused on running the public affairs. Or, Dorin Chirtoaca and his team insisted to make politics, to send messages that the quality of the administration he exercises in Chisinau will depend on the result of the 2009 elections. This way, the mayor attracted, on himself, the attention and rage of the central authorities and of the ruling party, which are keeping him under permanent pressure. Above all the problems he has had, this conflict in the CMC adds, Igor Botan says. The analyst is certain this situation will affect the image of the City Hall and the mayor, taking into account that, in conformity with the Law on the local public administration, the mayor is rather a manager executing the CMC's decisions. Thus his activity will depend on the friendliness of the new CMC majority. On the other hand, Dorin Chirtoaca will have an excuse, being able to invoke these hindrances. Asked whether Dorin Chirtoaca has brought the promised change to Chisinau, Igor Botan remarks the announced change does not come immediately, while the Moldovan citizens have proven they have enough patience. Despite all inadvertences, Dorin Chirtoaca has a very high trust rating. The citizens having voted for him go on considering they made the right choice. Citizens realize very well he is subjected to pressure from the propaganda machine, that he is working in rather bad conditions. Through their attitude, they support him and this is the last resource of Dorin Chirtoaca to keep on and be encouraged to continue his work, Igor Botan says. The analyst forecasts that the winter before the parliamentary elections will be the most serious exam and the mayor will have to prove not only management skills, but will have to manage his informational campaign very efficiently, otherwise his party is going to lose credibility. An adequate and decent media campaign could explain the citizen what are the main obstacles on the way of an adequate management in Chisinau. For Dorin Chirtoaca, the solutions are close, the expert considers. He should send citizens encouraging messages and to honor the obligations he assumed during the electoral campaign. In addition, the mayor should capable of launching new ideas, new projects and to finally learn to make new allies, Igor Botan concluded.