Moldovan government has received a vote of no confidence in parliament and resigned. The main demand of the activists who held rallies since September is thus satisfied. However, the calm has not come to the Moldovan politics. Quite the contrary.
Let us recall, the crisis broke out due to the fact that the nation’s three leading banks – Banca de Economii, Banca Sociala, Unibank, known collectively as group BEM – had a billion dollars disappearing from them. For a relatively small country and one of the poorest in Europe, it is a lot of money. The government of Vladimir Filat, on whose watch this “theft of the century” occurred, resigned, to be followed soon by the new Cabinet, which was led by Iurie Leanca. Now it is Valeriu Strelet Cabinet’s turn.
Although the protests were started by supporters of the European course, they have come to be organized and led by the left. They want to bring Moldova into an alliance with Russia. Of course, the Kremlin is trying to help its agents and building long-term plans on this basis, concerning not just Moldova, but Ukraine as well.
The political crisis was caused by the conflict between two oligarchs: Vlad Plahotniuc, who is the effective owner of the Democratic Party (DPM) and Vlad Filat, the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPM). So far, Plahotniuc scored a tactical victory. His opponent was detained on typical charges of financial fraud and embezzlement.
Although experts say an early parliamentary election is possible, the focus is on the presidential election, coming next spring. Moldova is a parliamentary republic and its president, having very limited powers, is elected in parliament. Nevertheless, the election of “their” president is very important for the main actors as part of preparations for the parliamentary election.
Leftists of all stripes want to take advantage of the crisis and return to power. The danger of revenge is visible and it cannot be ignored. On the other hand, supporters of the European course will consolidate against the DPM and Plahotniuc.
Events in our south-western neighbor demonstrate clearly the great danger posed by the political games of oligarchs and their clans. These unruly games led to the violent events in the Donbas, and there is a risk of their recurrence throughout the country. Moreover, our aggressive eastern neighbor would certainly try to take part in them.
Western partners of Moldova tried to help the pro-European forces to emerge from the crisis, but failed. The oligarchs have continued their infighting, showing little interest in the fate of their country then and now. Once again, the rule was proved: European course is nowhere and never supported by the oligarchs. On the contrary, they are strongly opposed to it, in Moldova just as in Ukraine.
There is an opportunity to learn a lesson from the events in the neighboring country. Will our government take advantage of this opportunity for the good of the country? I am not that optimistic about it.
COMMENTARIES
“CORRUPT OFFICIALS AND POLITICIANS COMPRISE THE MOST DANGEROUS PRO-PUTIN PARTY”
Oazu NANTOI, director of the Institute for Public Policy (Chisinau):
“On July 2, 2014, the Moldovan parliament ratified the Association Agreement with the European Union, which was signed on June 27, 2014. In the following months, all we saw was a disgraceful show when the parties, which are trying to privatize the ‘pro-European’ label, demonstrated their corrupt nature and complete lack of responsibility to the voters of Moldova.
“As for the so-called geopolitical vector, it is corrupt officials and politicians who comprise the most dangerous anti-national and pro-Putin party in Moldova. I think it applies to Ukraine as well. It should be noted that Moldova has one official Kremlin project, called the Party of Socialists.
“The parliament may not be dissolved after September 22, because the six-month countdown to the presidential election has started.
“We can assume that Plahotniuc has already prepared the candidacy of the future ‘president’ who he would get out of the sleeve if he succeeds in putting together an obedient majority in parliament. However, the question remains: how will the public react to this political insanity?”
“THIS CRISIS THREATENS EUROPEAN COURSE”
Serhii PYROZHKOV, former Ambassador of Ukraine to Moldova:
“Of course, the crisis threatens Moldova’s European course. The Socialists’ leader Igor Dodon has said that they will denounce the Association Agreement with the EU, which was signed in Chisinau past year. In fact, they want to hold an early election to reshuffle the governing coalition.
“The new coalition will be pro-European provided that the Democratic and Liberal parties and the group led by former prime minister Iurie Leanca found enough candidates. If not, a left-leaning coalition may come to power that will do anything to hold early election.
“Because Ukraine and Moldova have been moving in one and the same European direction in recent years, Moldova’s departure would mean the loss of another ally that supported Ukraine in our relations with the CIS and the nations of the Customs Union.”
Interviewed by Ihor SAMOKYSH, The Day
