In the campaign prior to the current presidential elections, the geopolitical confrontation was used less because of the eight candidates for President, six promoted the idea of a balanced foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova, both the European integration and good relations with Russia. Even if Russia, in such a conjuncture, has both positive and negative points, including in the foreign policy and in its relations with other states, it remains a dominant factor for Moldova’s economy. Both of the candidates for President, Igor Dodon and Maia Sandu, transmit important and correct electoral messages that can attract new segments of voters. The people actually want better living standards and many people now ignore the geopolitical factor, expert in political sciences Victor Stepaniuc, ex-Deputy Prime Minister, stated in IPN’s public debate “Split society and parallel worlds in elections in Moldova: causes and effects”.
Victor Stepaniuc noted the diaspora consists of people who had reasons to leave as they could not distinguish themselves at home, didn’t have a job and could not find possibilities of maintaining the family. It’s absolutely normal for these people to realize that they distanced themselves slightly from the information space, the country. As long as they are far away, they should not launch attacks on those who are in the country and vice versa. The people should respect each other. “We need intellectuals who would work out the future agenda for modernizing the country. If the politicians are unable to do this, the intellectuals should help.”
The expert said there are four factors that can lead to cohesion in Moldova’s divided society: acknowledgment of the problem of split of society by intellectual and political circles; consolidation of pragmatic political and intellectual forces that would propose balanced solutions for overcoming these divisions and for developing the country; powerful national leaders that would impose reforms in an authoritarian way, and raising of the level of political culture.
According to him, the unionist current exists, but does not represent 25-30% as some polls show, but less. However, it exists and influences political life in Moldova and is actively promoted from outside too. “I think we, the supporters of statehood, have multiple solutions, possibilities for mobilizing, but should not shift the whole blame onto politicians. The intellectual class can also be blamed for degradation and for the absence of solutions,” stated Victor Stepaniuc.
He noted that from historical viewpoint, we should realize that the Moldovan language is identical to the Romanian language and an intellectual person cannot say that they are different. Moldova has its place in history and the ethnic name “Moldovan” also has a place and the Romanian authorities should accept the fact that the Moldovans in the Republic of Moldova consider they are Moldovans who have their origin in the Old Moldova and should not impose the view that they are Romanians by different ways. “Isn’t this a violation of international conventions as it is up to me to decide how to identify myself?”
The debate “Split society and parallel worlds in elections in Moldova: causes and effects” was the eighth installment of the series “We and the President: Who elects who, who represents who” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
