In the presidential elections, the candidates of the right have a great resource of mobilization and protest. “In Moldova, there are now many people eligible to vote who remained without a job abroad and without employment prospects here and there,” stated the director of the Center of Research, Analysis and Forecasts “Balkan Center” Sergey Manastîrlî.

“These people do not have money and feel that owing to the inefficiency of the current government, their employment prospects will not improve at least,” the expert stated in IPN’s public debate “Autumn of elections: expectations and challenges in European development context”.

According to Sergey Manastîrlî, it goes to a category of voters who do not form part of the undecided ones. “They realize very well with whom it is more promising to identify the financial difficulties. Furthermore, the migrant workers from the West lean towards the pro-European politicians. Even if they were unable to vote at the workplace, they are much more active than their mates from the East,” stated the expert.

He is sure that the migrants who returned from the West can become a powerful source of mobilization and protest for Maia Sandu, including in challenging the results of the first round of voting and Igor Dodon’s victory, for example. “All the legal reasons for protesting appear given the quality of the electoral legislation reform. The protest scenario no longer matters. What is important is the support of the West and if those from the right manage to form a common center and to put forward the same demands daily and in stages,” noted Sergey Manastîrlî.

The public debate “Autumn of elections: expectations and challenges in European development context” was held as part of the project “Overcoming stereotypes of European integration through communication” that is implemented with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation.