By restoring some of the bans that existed before this January and by the mass vaccination of the population, the Republic of Moldova can avoid the declaring of a nationwide state of emergency, expert Igor Boțan stated in IPN’s public debate “State of emergency: for and against, health, economic and political aspects”.
Igor Boțan reminded that a National Extraordinary Public Health Commission has worked in Moldova for over a year. This can provide solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. ”The number of deaths has increased two times, but the number of infections also rose. In January, the number of infections decreased considerably, to the figures reported for last July, because a number of restrictions were in force. These were later relaxed and the number of infections with COVID-19 started to rise in February,” said the standing expert of IPN’s project.
Igor Boțan considers the military should not patrol again the streets as this will lead to a rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 in the army. “If the police patrol the streets as they did last year, when about 9,000 police officers monitored the observance of the COVID-19 protection measures by the population, the military should not be involved,” he stated.
The expert noted the statements for or against the state of emergency are made in a pre-electoral context. The PAS and Maia Sandu insist on snap elections, while other parties ask how to hold snap elections in times of a pandemic when the SARS-CoV-2 virus claims many lives yet. The president of the PSRM believes the investing of a new government and the immunization of the population during 12 months are the best solutions and the reasons for such statements are clear. A parliamentary majority was formed last December and the MPs of this majority want to keep the power in their hands. The question is, if a two-week lockdown is announced, will we have fewer deaths and fewer infected people in hospitals?” asked Igor Boțan.
He also said that the Cabinet, which fully forms part of the National Extraordinary Public Health Commission, should decide whether a state of emergency should be declared in Moldova, while Parliament can adjust the laws to the current pandemic situation. The intervention of President Maia Sandu through the Supreme Secret Council is a source of opinions and suggestions.
The public debate titled “State of emergency: for and against, health, economic and political aspects” is the 178th installment of the project “Developing Political Culture through Public Debates” that is implemented by IPN with the assistance of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
