Opposition party leader urges President to step down

Chairman of the Social Democracy Party (SDP) Dumitru Braghis, as a member of Parliament and as a citizen, requested Vladimir Voronin to resign as head of state. Braghis told a press conference that his appeal is not a pre-election move, but comes on the occasion of six years since Voronin was elected as head of state, a period in which the population of Moldova has experienced a deep crisis. He specified that he did not set the purpose that his appeal be supported by other opposition parties. Braghis accuses Voronin of promoting a policy of genocide against people. Over these years, Braghis says, the number of workplaces reduced from 1.5 mln to 800,000, the exodus of people reached large proportions, the discrepancy between the rich and the poor has increased, the disability allowance of I degree is 289 lei, while the minimum level of subsistence exceeded 900 lei. The author of the appeal claims the catastrophic situation in economy that is supported only by remittances from abroad. Due to the communist government’s policy, Moldova exports twofold less than before, while the small business, industry, the agricultural sector and winemaking branch are about to go bankrupt. All these things, as Braghis says, are being done in an attempt to purchase the land, industrial enterprises and wineries by “the biggest oligarch of Moldova” at a very low price. As regards the foreign policy, there are serious problems too, after the communist government instigated conflicts both with Russia and Romania, the cited source says. According to Braghis, the ruling party has declared a real war on freedom and democracy, set up a dictatorial regime produced anarchy among impertinent bureaucrats, harassment of opposition, stifling of opinion pluralism, and violation of human rights. The appeal’s author asserts that Voronin himself has destroyed the fundamental principle of democracy – the principle of separation and independence of powers. Braghis says that a number of programmes launched by Voronin, as “Satul moldovenesc” (Moldovan village), are clearly “political cynicism”, as the settlements in Moldova will soon remain without inhabitants, just with “several oligarchs, MPs, ministers and heads of departments along with an army of prosecutors, judges and policemen that work for Voronin”, the politician says. “People got tired of the wrongdoings that you are promoting, of the unbearable misery, of the feeling of despair, of miserable salaries and pensions, of the uncertainty the day of tomorrow brings along. I urge you: resign, forgo your ambitions and thirst for power in the name of progress and prosperity of the people”, the Appeal sent to President Vorinin and signed by Dumitru Braghis says.