PDM vs PSRM 2019: Only One Will Survive

RTA permanent author Dorin Mocanu is confident that in the coming weeks, the informal socialist leader Igor Dodon will face a test of strength. The expert notes that the PDM and its allies are planning to attack the president’s figure to “decapitate” the socialists before the elections. To step aside is not enough “We all remember that not long ago, Igor Dodon was going to head the list of the PSRM, but the law was not on the side of the President – he would have to resign. It is clear that Dodon will never take such a step, because he highly appreciates the status of “popularly elected” and will not risk this significant resource”, Mocanu said. The analyst points out that the President tried to take advantage of the situation and take a place “above the fray”, at the same time raising the PSRM rating through his personal image resource. “Socialists are a classic party of one person. It has always been this way, and even more so after Igor Dodon became President. On the one hand, it is comfortable for him to keep his chair – he can hold often meetings with the Russian President, earn political points for the party and act as a wise father of the nation who does not spread himself on election squabbles. However, to simply step aside is not enough”, Mocanu said. The expert believes that Dodon in his incarnation of an irreconcilable fighter against the oligarchic capture of Moldova poses the greatest threat to the puppeteer and his democrats. Not surprisingly, Dodon has been under attack from three fronts simultaneously: through an interview with Parliament Speaker Candu, in the revelations of Ilan Shor about joint voyages in Monaco and even in jokes on Russian television. “You cannot take seriously either the NTV channel or its programs, the Russian federal media has never touched Dodon. Mr. Keosayan can then make excuses and appeal to a healthy sense of humor and self-irony, but the blow was painful. Obviously, Dodon did not expect such a stab in the back from Russian strategic partners. Then Ilan Shor recalled joint leisure time in Monaco and private jets, then Candu rudely asked not to “pay attention” to the President, who has a “voice”, but no “hands”. Note that all the attacks were precisely on Dodon, on the last name and image of the President”, reminds Mocanu. To discredit and provoke “Tough times are coming for Igor Dodon. The closer the elections, the more details of his biography opponents will give in the media, at rallies and meetings with voters. A good half of active participants in the Moldovan politics are people from the Communist Party of Voronin, they know each other for many years. They can recall all sorts of stories, even the most innocuous, and seek excuses from the enemy. This is a tough test, and Mr. Dodon should have nerves of steel in order not to lose self-control”, Mocanu said. The expert points out that the massive campaign to discredit Dodon has far-reaching goals and does not exclude that in the worst scenario, there will be attempts to remove the President from office “once and for all”. “The more the Democratic Party or the same Ilan Shor succeeds in discrediting the President, the more nervous will be the situation in the socialist headquarters. Where there are emotions, there are mistakes, where there are mistakes, there is betrayal. Perhaps the PDM does not have a clear strategy, but the Plahotniuc’s headquarters can fight against the opponents”, the analyst notes. The expert assumes that the party of socialists and closest supporters of Igor Dodon will face the strength test. Mocanu is sure that the members of the PSRM will be convinced of the future failure of their leader and suggested to choose the “right camp” before it is too late. “Bribery, threats and blackmail are the ordinary phenomenon in Moldovan politics. Other parties, like the communists and the liberal democrats, experienced them firsthand a couple of years ago. The PSRM turn is also approaching, evidently”, told Dorin Mocanu. Recently, two parties at once — the Liberal Party and Shor Party – have complained to the Central Election Commission that the PSRM had violated the electoral legislation. These violations are related to the support that President Igor Dodon provides to the socialists. The Shor Party, along with the liberals, believes that President Dodon is interfering in the election race, providing the PSRM with “moral and political support”. The Shor Party has separately noted that the socialists are supported by the “head of a foreign state”, which appears in the photo with Dodon. The formal reason was the banner with the advertising of the migration amnesty in Russia, agreed by Dodon and Putin. Liberals even demanded to remove the PSRM from the elections. Science of Victory The RTA expert believes that Igor Dodon is fully aware of sharpness and danger of the situation. This is confirmed by his recent statement on the Accent TV. The President is sure that if before the day of the parliamentary elections on February 24 the main opponents of the PDM — the socialists or the ACUM bloc — are removed from the elections, then the results of the voting will not be recognized either in the West or in the East, and people will have to take to the streets. “Of course, the democrats will not remove themselves from the race. That is, it is theoretically possible to remove either the PSRM or the ACUM bloc. No matter which of these two formations will be removed from the race, I will assume that the elections are illegal, and I will call on citizens and external partners to recognize them as illegal”, emphasized Igor Dodon. Judging by the words of the politician, the socialists and Dodon personally are ready for the final stage of the uncompromising struggle for the Moldovan political Olympus at any cost, and even through mass protests. An important role in this situation, as usual, will be played by the main international partners – Washington, Brussels and Moscow. It is also clear that in the struggle “on the squares” there are big chances for those with stronger nerves and more convinced motivated supporters with warm hearts. At first glance, the final confrontation of lovers of buckwheat porridge in the fresh air and irreconcilable fighters for justice is obvious. However, as the Moldovan experience of many years shows, with a conflict situation, the result can be very unexpected for everyone.