The rule of Petru Lucinschi has been rich in surprises: last summer Moldova turned into a parliamentary republic, and in late February it became the first post-Soviet country where Communists came to power through elections. Moldova’s experience has shown that politics in the post-Soviet states suffers from numerous “childhood diseases,” especially the absence of leaders and noncompliance of the existing elite and its policies with the needs of the time and society. On April 4 the Moldovan parliament is to elect a new president, after which all we will have to do is draw our own conclusions about whether or not yet another political experiment in the CIS was a success. Mr. Lucinschi thinks the clock cannot be set back under any circumstances, but is skeptical of the Communists’ capabilities.
“How do you feel as you leave office? Will you remain in grand politics? Will you join the opposition?”
“On the one hand, I can say with a clear conscience that I have done all I could for my country, so there is nothing to reproach me for. I think the main result of my work is the achievement of civil peace and interethnic harmony in the country. This is not unimportant for Moldova which has gone through serious, including bloody, conflicts. On the other hand, I cannot say I managed to do all I planned to. The Transnistrian problem still awaits final solution. Despite positive tendencies in the economy that have appeared in the past year, the economic and social situation in Moldova is still difficult. We also failed to modify the Constitution.
“As to my political future, perhaps it is not my destiny to quit politics altogether. Yet, I am not going to oppose the regime. I think a president, when his term of office expires, should do what he can for his people, using his political experience, in order to help the authorities and society consolidate for the sake of a great cause, the renaissance of Moldova.
“What has actually happened? The absolute majority of votes have brought the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PKRM) led by Vladimir Voronin to power. The elections were quite democratic, and we have at last a political force capable of forming a stable parliamentary majority. But one should understand that this will not automatically change the situation in the country for the better. The PKRM won the elections only because, on the one hand, the other parties that had wielded power wound up compromising themselves, and, on the other hand, the Communists promised the voters to solve practically all their pressing problems. And nostalgia for the way things were is still strong.
“But if you are a realist, you have to admit that this task is hardly attainable in the immediate future. This is the time bomb, which could turn the current Communist victory into a defeat, and not only for the PKRM itself but also for the whole society and the whole Moldova. This could happen if Voronin and his team do not take prompt and resolute steps to knit society together. To do so, the Communists at this stage will have to abandon political confrontation, push to the background purely ideological issues, and concentrate on solving our economic and social problems. This is precisely what can lay the groundwork for bringing political forces together for the sake of national renaissance. But if the Communists prefer some other options, push aside the potential allies, and strive to rule alone monopolistically, this could cause the situation to seriously deteriorate.”
“What is your assessment of the early parliamentary elections? What is in store for your country this year?”
“Unfortunately, these elections did not match the hopes of those who believed they would bring about our long-awaited stabilization, the absence of which was a fundamental obstacle to our efforts to build our young independent state.
“The Communists, too, seem to have begun thinking seriously over what is in store for our country this year. At any rate, Mr. Voronin is too experienced and sober-minded a politician not to understand the main point: there is simply no alternative to the course that has been pursued in this country in the past few years and has already begun to yield positive results. Anything else is pure adventurism that can only exacerbate the country’s and people’s already difficult condition and set off an explosion of social indignation, destabilizing the political situation.
“If formation of the new bodies of power does not drag on, if the key governmental offices are filled with pragmatic professionals and they receive support of the parliamentary majority and the president, and if the new leadership makes the economic and social sphere the cornerstone of its policy, declaring at least a two year moratorium on controversial issues, Moldova will be able to stand up on its own feet and embark on the road of progress and prosperity.
“If, conversely, our old Moldovan tradition — to share power ‘between our own guys’ without due account of their professional and moral qualities — prevails again, we will not make it as an independent state. We have already used up the limited time granted us by history. It’s time to start thinking, and the sooner, the better.”
“Is the Bulgarian scenario possible in Moldova?”
“It cannot be ruled out, of course, but only in a form still worse than in Bulgaria. If they were solving the problem of who, Left or Right, will be in power, we will be deciding whether or not Moldova will be a sovereign independent state. This makes the difference obvious. I would say we will be more susceptible to a scenario, which could take us back to the 1989- 1991 situation if our politicians don’t come to their senses and drop their excessive ambitions in favor of creative work. It would mean ethnic conflicts, confrontation, and enmity.
“I hope, however, that Mr. Voronin and his colleagues understand the complexity of the current situation in Moldova and will thus move with care and caution.”
“Is GUUAM going to drop the last letter? What kind of an organization would you like it to be?”
“I would like this organization to be effective and viable. One should be aware that GUUAM member- states think, above all, about the development of economic links rather than ‘friendship’ against Russia, as some try to portray it. I think we could remain part of this organization if it is a consultative body without any institutionalized elements or military commitments.”
“Will the Communist leadership be able to continue the course of reform and integrate in the common European house now under construction?”
“I believe the destiny of not only our country but also the PKRM itself will depend on whether it will be able to do so. It is time the Communist leadership understood that the situation has changed radically and irreversibly, and no ideological dogmas, postulates or appeals to the nostalgia of the citizens can bring about the impossible; you cannot step into the same river twice.
“I am sure the absolute majority of our citizens want no revolutions, confrontations, or new turns in politics and the economy. All of Europe is now employing the market economy pattern in conjunction with a strong social policy, which makes it possible to have a developed democracy without poverty. I don’t think Mr. Voronin and his team fail to understand that they have no other choice, for this line is also followed by the countries to which the Communists look as a model, Russia above all.
“I am sure the Moldovan Communist leadership cannot help but understand the danger of new communist experiments in a ruined Moldova. I hope they will display enough pragmatism and common sense to step up reforms and strive for new social achievements, which would enable every individual to work honestly and be paid at a level sufficient to provide him and his family decent living standards.
“The democratic transformations and the norms of life we have implemented in the past few years will make it impossible to turn back the clock. The people are different.”
“What lesson do you think could Ukraine learn from Moldovan developments in view of the parliamentary elections to take place next year?”
“I don’t like to give out advice, especially to other states. Every country has its own special features and traditions. Yet, I cannot deny that I closely follow developments in Ukraine, a neighboring friendly state. I would like everyone to understand that, although political struggle and interests have always existed, there are limits that determine the international prestige of a country. I would like to wish the Ukrainian people that they bring together all the forces that cherish the freedom and independence of their country.”
