A complicated situation in the Republic of Moldova

A two-month state of emergency has been declared in the republic of Moldova against the background of an unfavorable evolution of the pandemic, but the parliamentary opposition claims the real reason is to put off snap elections

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Roxana Vasile, 02.04.2021, 13:50

Following a decision made by the Parliament in Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet state with a predominantly Romanian speaking population, is in a state of emergency until May 30th. The acting Prime Minister Aurel Ciocoi decided to ask Parliament to declare a state of emergency because of the epidemiological situation triggered by the spread of the novel coronavirus. According to Radio Chisinau, however, no concrete sanitary or economic measures have been established, only more Government prerogatives for the enforcement of special conditions regarding circulation, work and quarantine.

Rumor has it that the decision is about elections. Criticized by the parliamentary opposition, which claims the decision is actually about putting off snap parliamentary elections, the state of emergency bill was initiated by the Socialist deputies headed by the former pro-Russia president Igor Dodon, and the Shor party, which the recently elected president Maia Sandu would like to see having less influence in parliament, in order to be able to implement her pro-European plans.

Deputy Mihai Popsoi, from the Action and Solidarity Party has stated:

Two weeks ago, your leader, Mr. Dodon, said there were no grounds or need for declaring a state of emergency. What has changed since then? I have an answer to that: the conditions for dissolving parliament. The only plan is to push this as farther as possible or avoid early elections

In response, the Socialist Vasile Bodea has said:

60 people died yesterday of Covid-19. This is what has changed. We could soon reach 100 dead per day.

As no elections may be held during the state of emergency, some pundits say that the Party of Socialists wants to stall and has no problem using a social issue in order to reach its goal. The Socialists say that they will not allow any snap elections in the time of pandemic and accused the presidential administration of cynical actions, ready to put people’s lives at risk for personal and party interests.

On the other side, President Maia Sandu has recently notified the Constitutional Court about the fact that all legal conditions have been met for the dissolution of Parliament. Maia Sandu says that the Legislative has twice failed to appoint a Government, and also that the current parliamentary majority favors corrupt parties and is not at all interested in finding solutions that would benefit the citizens.(MI)