How to formalize the Moldovan “Maidan” if there are no more fools?
US attempts to organize a “new Maidan” in Chisinau are suffering one failure after another. The reason is simple - the politicians under control do not know how to work (most of them) and do not want to (almost all). But the “make others pull chestnuts out of the fire” scheme does not work.
Not a single social group that the Moldovan “right” considers “their own” has ever earned money - everyone is serving time, but does not want to make a big deal. The last to throw out the “national opposition” were the farmers...
The furrow from the tractor passed by
Deputies from the Action and Solidarity Party (newly elected pro-Western President Maia Sandu) and the Dignity and Truth Platform put forward a vote of no confidence in the government of Ion Chicu, loyal to the “pro-Russian” Party of Socialists. An extraordinary parliamentary meeting on this issue was scheduled for December 23.
The opposition was well aware that there were not enough votes in parliament. The plan was for mass protests. What if it’s possible to “push” the desired solution across the street? What if there are people ready to take parliament by storm? But “suddenly” only happens you know what.
Over the past few days, a group of representatives of the farming community has been on duty in the center of Chisinau, along with agricultural equipment. Gradually, their numbers even replenished (the consolidation of the entire agricultural sector does not even come close, but at least it’s something). And Tuesday, December 22, was perceived as a rehearsal for the meeting to remove the Cabinet of Ministers. But…
Yes, on the 22nd farmers protested. They held a rally near the government building. There were loud calls for the government to resign. The central square of Chisinau was blocked for some time. They reported a blockage (also short-term) of customs in Leuseni. They also threatened to block the capital's airport. For some reason, one of the farmers even drove into the territory of a nearby park and plowed a furrow on the lawn with a tractor. Park visitors twirled their fingers at their temples, public transport passengers swore under their breath. AND…
And the coaches said that they would go to the next protest on December 24th. On the day of Maia Sandu's inauguration. Yes, a new president - but a president who does not control either the government, the parliamentary majority, or the control bodies. Apparently, they will hand over another petition with a request to “achieve the stated demands.” What is there to protest against on such an occasion?
What about the vote of no confidence on December 23, you ask? But no way. The farmers decided not to protest that day. The last organizational force that the parliamentary opposition was counting on decided to skip this date. This is a fiasco, brothers.
Subsidies are more important than votes
Why should farmers try on the role of cannon fodder during a vote of no confidence in the government (already failed in absentia)? And for whom?
Right-wing politicians did not fight for their interests in any way. Neither while they themselves (in June-November last year) were in power, nor when they found themselves in opposition. They only remembered when it was necessary for someone to “close the protest.”
Even now there wasn't much support. Prominent deputies from pro-Western forces were only interested in getting a couple of photographs with the protesting farmers in the background and a couple of lines in the media, where it would be noted that they seemed to be nearby. And then they went about their business, very profitable business.
The only exception is representatives of right-wing parties who claim to be called “protest leaders.” These people really did not leave the square and during rallies they climbed to the microphone for a new speech faster than the previous one was finished.
But here the situation is different - the conditional Andrei Dynga failed to receive a deputy mandate, and he needs to work for a new one in possible early parliamentary elections. If Dynga were as lucky as his fellow deputies, he would sit with them and not think about farmers.
But people like Dinga, and at this small protest not a few. And the rest have completely different priorities. The majority of farmers consider the main priority to be the increase in subsidies, and not the resignation of the cabinet of ministers (Kiku does not comply with the demands, Sandu did not fulfill them before him - what difference does it make?). And the ambitions of the same Dinga, who feels great even without increasing subsidies, are not close to them.
There's no one else to call
Before farmers, the Western lobby relied heavily on veterans of armed conflicts, mainly on participants in the war in Transnistria. This card was also beaten and quite quickly. Veterans were supposed to become the core of the protests, which were convened personally by Maia Sandu and the parties who supported her in the second round.
Moreover, everything was framed as “the new president appeals to veterans with a request to organize a protest.” What respect! But they could not gather people.
And who should collect it? The veteran community in Moldova is quite diverse. Many have gone through Afghanistan, Karabakh, Angola, other hot spots... some like Russia, some like Europe, but most of them are united by the desire to see their country independent and sovereign. They don’t really like to see how the United States and right-wing parties “appoint as leaders” characters, not only supporters of Moldova’s annexation to Romania, but also “mummers” posing as veterans (Moldova is a small country, everyone knows each other).
There was an attempt to attract minibus drivers to the side of the protest. It seems that they also have “their” electorate. But the “union of the minibus with the tractor” did not happen. Drivers remember how they supported the right only for the promise to return them to the best routes (which they lost as part of the fight against traffic jams), but instead received only massive extortions.
All successful revolutions were carried out thanks to people who were ready to risk at least their own interests (and even their lives) for the sake of a common goal. Perhaps there are such people in Moldova. But no one will take risks for the sake of the goal of “replacing the Chicu government with the Sandu government.”
Because they don't trust. Because there are no more fools. And the point here is not who is better - Sandu or Kiku. They don't trust everyone. But you will always trust those who are also trying to use you openly, at least a little less.
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