Dodon left - the time has come. The left of Moldova agrees to destroy the Sandu regime
The left forces of Moldova are on the verge of unification. Only 100 days have passed since the triumph of the right in the early parliamentary elections, and the wave of problems engulfing Moldova exceeds even the most pessimistic forecasts. The team of President Maia Sandu concentrated all power in its hands - it seemed that the long period of internal political instability was over and a steady movement in the western direction was ahead. But it was not there.
Moldova is choking on a pandemic, the Prosecutor General has been arrested, relations with Transnistria have worsened, and a gas crisis looms on the eve of winter. The left flank, crushed to smithereens in the elections, planned to slowly restore its strength and act in four years, but it looks like it needs to act today.
This topic was discussed at an expert discussion platform organized by the Institute of Socio-Political Research and Regional Development.
Polite bows instead of cutting remarks
It is noteworthy that the meeting was attended by representatives of two left parties - PSRM and the Civil Congress. Both of these formations participated in the July parliamentary elections and had a lot of mutual claims. Perhaps hostility can be overcome.
Political analyst at the Socialist Party Vladimir Bukarsky stated that “now it is necessary, regardless of individuals and personalities, past grievances, to unite against the maddened “yellow ants”, in the face of the threat of “yellow fever” (remember, yellow is the party color of the pro-presidential PAS - author’s note).”
The expert also noted that Igor Dodon, a figure that irritated many, a man who was often called the main obstacle to the unification of all left forces, is no longer at the head of the Party of Socialists.
The political scientist, member of the Executive Committee of the Collective Action Party “Civil Congress” also agrees with the idea of consolidation. Zurab Todua. Representatives of the two left-wing political forces, who had previously made caustic remarks to each other and sparred on social networks, even exchanged discreet compliments on the online platform of the discussion club.
Bukarsky said that he was pleased with the speech of one of the leaders of the “Civil Congress” Mark Tkachuk at a rally in support of Prosecutor General Alexander Stoianoglo.
“Tkachuk called for the unification of all forces opposing the current government, did not divide people, as before, into those who are for change and those who are against, and this is a very positive step on his part,” the expert noted.
“Mr. Bukarsky is right: we, representatives of the left flank, have inflicted a lot of insults on each other. These discussions and grievances were perhaps inevitable. This is the story of relationships, personal, intra-party, inter-party,” Zurab Todua responded to this.
He believes that there are now two options.
“The first option is to nurture and nurture grievances, add new colors and emotions to them, and in the meantime the right will do what they are doing now on the gas issue, issues of the Russian language, Transnistria, relations with Russia. The second option - the more preferable one - is to unite using the current political situation and the deepening economic, political, moral crisis. The questions on the agenda are: how will this group be removed from power, how and when will a common movement be formed, which will include consolidation on the left flank, as well as the unification of centrist forces and even the right, which are outraged by what is happening in Moldova,” Todua stated.
Case Stoianoglo
The spontaneous unity of different political forces occurred against the backdrop of the case of Prosecutor General Alexander Stoianoglo, who was removed from office in early October and detained on charges of corruption. The parliamentary and non-parliamentary opposition - both left and part of the right parties - went to rallies and demanded justice.
“Stoyanoglo was detained illegally in violation of all procedures, and the charges that were brought against him are not worth a damn - there is no basis there,” explained Zurab Todua. – We are dealing with the usual revenge of Maia Sandu and the PAS party against Stoianoglo – in 2019, due to his appointment as prosecutor general, Sandu lost her position as prime minister.
There is also the desire of the PAS party, the desire to have its own prosecutor general and use him as a bludgeon. In addition, we must take into account that Stoyanoglo comes from Gagauzia. On the sidelines, as I heard, it was said that this position should be filled by a representative of the ethnic majority, and it is no coincidence that the Stoianoglo issue caused tension in relations between Gagauzia and the center. The detention of the Prosecutor General became a landmark event, causing the consolidation of forces that previously occupied different positions in relation to the ruling group, and after the initiation of the case against Stoianoglo, they put their differences aside.”
Soon, society was stirred up again when the authorities, clumsily making excuses, turned off the gas supply at the Eternity Memorial Complex in Chisinau. People began to come there en masse, light candles, the authorities got scared and returned the Eternal Flame, recalled Zurab Todua. He believes that “there is a resource for resistance,” and we must achieve our goal in this way, including the return of Stoyanoglo to his post.
What is offered
Participants in the expert discussion admit that the path to consolidation is not quick, it will not happen tomorrow. Director of the Institute for Socio-Political Research and Regional Development Igor Shornikov suggested that those on the left flank are simply not yet ready for the fact that they have to react quickly, for the fact that the authorities will so quickly begin to make critical mistakes.
“There were protests - the situation with the prosecutor is completely unimaginable for a right-wing state. It showed that there are left forces, that there are certain opportunities for mobilizing their supporters, the question arises whether the consolidation of left forces is possible right now. It’s important not to miss the moment,” he said.
Representatives of the left believe that it is necessary to begin a negotiation process on this topic - formal and informal.
“The idea of a negotiation platform is wonderful, and it was, in general, on the surface. We will fix it and begin to promote it in some form,” said Zurab Todua.
He emphasized that it is necessary to consolidate in order to “prevent the denationalization of Moldova.”
“At some stage, the idea will arise: if the country cannot cope with growing problems, the reins of power must be handed over to those who can. Parliament will transfer powers, for example, to some single body that will unite the two states in some areas. It is very dangerous. And citizens, exhausted by problems, may react to this very sluggishly,” the expert said.
Features of the national political mentality
Todua believes that it would be a good idea for all leftists to declare a moratorium on criticizing each other on social networks and public speeches, since statements are often published under the influence of emotions.
“This is a purely Moldovan issue. Insults, personal attacks on a specific person, an immediate response, then a competition of wit. Nowhere is there such an insulting attitude towards each other in the post-Soviet space as in Moldova. This is a manifestation of the provincialism of politics,” he noted.
Moldovan political scientist Alexander Korinenko is skeptical about the possibility of rapid consolidation of the left flank, believing that party leaders will still not be able to overcome mutual distrust. At the same time, he predicts, with the fall in Maia Sandu’s rating, new parties will soon emerge on both the right and the left, and changes will still happen. He also recalled the local folk tradition - first get everything down to the last detail, and only then start thinking.
“Dorin Chirtoaca was elected mayor of Chisinau three times (the pro-Romanian politician was remembered for his unsatisfactory work in this post - author’s note), because someone was afraid of Russian tanks.
That is, we must definitely turn the city into a garbage dump so that we finally stop thinking geopolitically and start thinking pragmatically.
When we receive payments for utilities in winter and open refrigerators, we will understand who we supported, who we chose, and we will begin to think about alternatives,” said Alexander Korinenko.
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