A lot of people were affected in 2020 owing to the pandemic and the risk factors and this moment unites and mobilizes the people from all the country’s regions. The people with small and big businesses face the same problems. If people start to show a spirit of initiative in the public sphere, it means the patriarchal spirit in rural areas disappears. The people start to have another mentality, civic position and those who earlier managed rural localities disappear. New, courageous people who are not so credulous as many others in rural areas appear, Viorel Chivriga, expert in economic policies of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul”, said in IPN’s public debate “What do farmers want? What does Government want or does not want?”
“The villages started to speak in a different way as the diaspora, which incorporates many persons coming from rural areas, also became involved. In 2003, the situation was similar because of the drought, while in 2004 the exodus was massive and many abandoned their businesses. All the governments that will rule from now on should realize that in the Republic of Moldova the people should be treated respectfully, as citizens of the country,” stated the expert.
Viorel Chivriga noted the political demands formulated by the farmers overlap the economic demands. When the dialogue is late and there are no results, tendencies to put forward political demands appear. The farmers protest because they consider that the current Government does not cope with the difficult situation and this was visible in particular periods. The assistance that will be provided to farmers is minimal and this will not help the famers. The farmers were joined in by other categories of entrepreneurs such as carriers and managers from the hospitality industry, which were also affected considerably by the pandemic.
“This is a novelty in the Moldovan economic sphere – representatives of different sectors formulate a common demand to the government. I think other sectors will also start to protest. In fact, many of the economic problems will be solved when political will to change something and correctitude in relation to the opponents appear.”
Asked if the farmers’ protest is peaceful or violent, Viorel Chivriga said behavioral deviations are seen in some of the protesters, but these are not serious. There could be yet provokers among the protesters, as it happened earlier. Compared with other protests, the fathers grew considerably. Most of the farmers wore masks and maintained physical distancing.
As to what can happen after the farmers’ protest planned for tomorrow, Viorel Chivriga said he expects the situation will become clear after the President-elect is invested, after December 24. Emphases will be then placed as they should. It will be hard to stage protests during the winter holidays and the protests will be probably suspended until after the holidays. A lot will depend on the performance of the ruling and opposition politicians. The farmers are not satisfied with the steps taken by the government so far.
The public debate “What do farmers want? What does Government want or does not want?” was the 164th installment of the series “Developing political culture through public debates” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
