The year 2017 was one of the most difficult years in the history of the Moldovan Party of Socialists: it was the first year for the party’s leader Igor Dodon as president and during this time “unprecedented pressure has been exerted from the government and foreign forces”, says a declaration adopted by the party’s National Council, which assembled on Wednesday for an end-of-year meeting.
The Socialists accuse the government of seeking to undermine the president’s position by trying to strain Moldova’s relationship with its “main strategic partner” Russia. The invoked examples are the expulsion of Russian diplomats and journalists, the declaration of Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin as persona non grata, the adoption of a law against Russian propaganda, and the calling back of Moldova’s ambassador to Russia for an undetermined period.
Under these circumstances, the Socialist Party had two major objectives: keep the party ranks united and keep approval ratings high. “As Moldova’s President was under constant attacks, PSRM was the only party to support the head of state. PSRM voted in Parliament for all the initiatives proposed by Igor Dodon and fought against the Democratic Party’s initiatives aiming at hurting our relations with Russia”.
The Socialists stressed that it was on their initiative that Parliament adopted the mixed electoral system, which will offer to every region, including Transnistria and the diaspora, a “guaranteed and fair representation” in the next Parliament.
As concerns the referendum to oust Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, the Socialists say they managed to mobilize over 110,000 voters despite a massive boycott from other political parties.
After the Constitutional Court advised against a referendum to make Moldova a presidential republic, the Socialists started gathering signatures to incorporate this system change into their electoral program for the 2018 elections.
The Socialist Party says it’s committed to five fundamental values: Moldova’s neutrality, social equity, the Transnistrian conflict settlement, strategic partnership with Russia, and the defense of Orthodoxy and family values.
Plans for 2018 include collecting 1 million signatures in support of the presidential system change, selecting candidates in electoral districts, and preparing the party for winning the 2018 elections.
