Igor Munteanu: The Communist Party of Moldova is very likely to suffer the greatest defeat after 2001. The Info-Prim Neo interview with political analyst Igor Munteanu

[- What are the distinctive elements of the general local elections from the 3rd June?] - These elections have brought a few distinctive elements. First of all, they certified and confirmed a serious decline of the Communist Party’s fame. For the first time after 2001, Moldova’s Communist Party doesn’t find solutions and can’t fill in the lack of some relevant candidates either by bags of money thrown into the campaign, or by administrative resources, abusively used in the campaign. The poll shows this decline not only in the capital city where less than 60.000 electors voted for the Communist candidate, but also nationwide, where the Party is very likely to get the biggest defeat after 2001. The second plot element in these elections is related to the use on a large scale of some electoral technologies by getting some famous foreign groups involved. The electoral campaigns are turning into an expensive activity in Moldova and this phenomenon doesn’t go in line with the adjustment of the respective legal frame to these changes. A law draft on financing the political parties is being endorsed and discussed and it hasn’t yet represented a reference point for the specific settlement of the electoral money. Finally, the elections seem to have stimulated what looked as nearly impossible a month ago, i.e. a cooperation agreement in the opposition world, which breaks some old calculations related to the effects of the 2005 elections. [- What new elements have come up or could come up after these elections ?] - It is possible to witness an excellent change in the political structure of the district councils. This new situation could very well boost the decentralization and more changes. I think this poll will encourage the opposition to dare hoping for success in other political areas as well. It is expected that the Communist Party’s electors will lose heart after these results, and their anger will nourish some older frustrations of this party. As it is well-known, Moldova’s Communist Party is related only by name to an ideology, representing actually a power and time-server party. A confirmation of this is also the fact that the party couldn’t recruit among themselves any ministers, giving thus the political responsibility to a governing team, called “technocratic”, which has as many, believes as many jet planes Moldova has. Such parties have usually clay legs and disappear overnight like soap bubbles, as the time-servers are the first to hurry up and ensure their transition to other political streams representing the future change options. The change is imminent, but can be very painful if the nomenclature would cling to the power. [- 3 social-democrat wing formations made public their intention of coalition. Under the circumstances created after the 3rd June, do you consider that other coalitions on Moldova’s political arena are possible?] - We will wait for the time being to see how far the first coalition attempt will go. If the social-democrats would manage to overcome their “fuhrerism” complexes and will make a real party, which will represent a trustworthy centre-left wing option, this step could take from the list a significant number of electors who are currently voting the Communist party. We need to notice for all that the fact that a party means not only a “proud” name, like a “family portrait” of some leaders, but also the results got in an electoral fight. Unfortunately, namely this deficit is forcing the 3 formations today to look for an alternative format of their up to date activities. It is sure also that the liberal party will be similarly challenged, especially when one of them, the unofficial leader of the Liberal Party, could reach the top of the capital city hierarchy. There are some positive signs as well on other political segments which promise some interesting changes. But let not anticipate it….