Igor Dodon, the President of the Republic of Moldova and informal leader of the PSRM, says that Ion Ceban will be the socialist candidate for the office of general mayor of Chisinau municipality in the general local elections that will take place on October 20. During the Moldova 1 TV program “Moldova în direct”, the president said that the decision has been taken and will be approved during the next PSRM National Council on August 30.
Igor Dodon claims that Ion Ceban is the most prepared candidate, because he has been a member of the Chisinau Municipal Council for the last four years. According to the head of state, PSRM will start the campaign by signing a non-aggression agreement with the ACUM candidate. "We won't touch upon the subject of geopolitics, we will focus, as best as we can, on the issues of the residents of Chisinau. Ion Ceban accepts this approach and I think that so does the ACUM candidate”, said Igor Dodon.
When asked about the Transnistrian problem, the head of state said that premises for talks and for a political solution to the Transnistrian problem will appear during the next 6 months or over the course of the next year. In particular, according to the president, citizens from the left bank of the Dniester are calling for a solution to their financial institutions, which currently operate outside the law. Another objective is to ensure the free movement of people from one bank of the Dniester to another. "I really hope that I will have the opportunity to discuss these issues with Vadim Krasnoselski over the course of September or October" said Igor Dodon.
In other news, the president was asked about the electricity tariff increase, which must be approved by the National Agency for Energy Regulation. Igor Dodon says he asked NAER not to rush with tariff adjustments, because negotiations with the Russian side for lowering gas prices are underway. "Next week, the new Moldovagaz director will get started and negotiations to obtain a gas price reduction from Gazprom will be initiated, as to not to increase the tariffs for final consumers", said Igor Dodon.
Moreover, Igor Dodon added that the PSRM-ACUM political agreement is 70% ready and will be signed next week. The agreement has several components. The first element is justice reform, including the reform of the prosecutor's office, which will start with the evaluation of all judges and prosecutors in Moldova. The second key element of the agreement will concern economic and social reforms. The objective is to create well paying jobs at home and to ensure a fair social policy. The parties will not accept cross party member transit and will not create coalitions with deputies from other factions. In terms of foreign policy, ACUM-PSRM will focus on measures regarding the implementation of the EU Association Agreement and on the restoration of relations with strategic partners. A non-aggression pact will be signed during local elections.
