Experts: There Are No Parties in Moldova, Only Interest Groups

“In Moldova there are no pure and simple parties. There are interest groups. And this is our country’s biggest problem.” Dmitri Calak , Economic Review Logos-Press’ chief editor expressed this point of view. During the IPN Agency debate, the journalist asked: “Where is the Liberal Democratic Party that has been determining all and everything for five years? Where is the Democratic Party? Where is the Liberal one? Politicians juggle with concepts, declarations ... Today they say one thing, and tomorrow they will run over to another party and say another thing, then in the third party the rhetoric would change again. In a normal society, this is untenable”, ipn.md  reported. He believes that the only right decision in such a situation could be a ban on parties. “It is necessary to ban all parties. At least for five years. Conduct elections in single-member districts, prohibit creating parliamentary factions and let each deputy vote as his knowledge, experience and conscience say. Only this way we cleanse ourselves of the rot that has eaten up the concept of a party with us,” Dmitri Calak said. Meanwhile, the director of Center for Analysis, Research and Forecasts at the Balkan-center, Serghei Manastirli is confident that “even banning parties Moldova will not get rid of the main problem because there will remain oligarchic and near-oligarchic financial and industrial groups, which will continue through politicians protecting their financial and economic interests. ” “The Institute of Political Parties in Moldova is completely discredited and we have already seen the consequences of several election cycles in a row,” Serghey Manastirli said. - The main consequence is the turnout decrease in the elections. People lose interest in the electoral process as they understand it is not they who influence the decision-making process on election day but those who finance the parties.” The representative of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Reforms, Alexandru Stahurschi, recalled the way almost a year ago three major global players supported Vladimir Plahotniuc’s departure from power in Moldova. “But now they look at all that is happening in our country and ask the question: why were all our efforts for,” Alexandru Stahurschi said. Public debate “European integration during pandemic: new opportunities or stagnation?”  are arranged within the project framework “Overcoming the stereotypes of European integration through communication”, which the IPN Agency is implementing with the support of the Hans Seidel Foundation.