Dodon: Plahotniuc and Shor Left Moldova, but Did not Quit the Idea to Retake Power in the Country

President Igor Dodon recalled that exactly one year ago, on June 8, 2019, the Party of Socialists and the ACUM bloc succeeded in “overthrowing the oligarchic regime”, which, according to him, was “the second ordeal” for Moldova after the Nistru conflict. At the same time, according to Dodon, “the oligarchs Plahotniuc and Shor, having left the country, did not abandon the idea of ​​taking power into their own hands again, destabilizing the situation in Moldova and trying to overthrow the Ion Chicu government. Dodon published a video on his Facebook page dedicated to the anniversary of “overthrowing the despotic regime established by Vladimir Plahotniuc” and “the salvation of democracy in Moldova”. According to the president, this regime was toppled thanks to "parliamentary parties, citizens who supported them morally, and external partners who firmly stated that they would no longer tolerate abuse of oligarchic power." Dodon noted that “personally for him, the decision to go directly and decisively against Plahotniuc was associated with very serious risks ”, including risks to his life and the lives of his loved ones, but he "does not regret that decision for a minute." He also noted the actions of "colleagues in the ACUM bloc, which, despite ideological and doctrinal differences" with the Party of Socialists, "took part in a general and final blow to the oligarchic regime." As Dodon noted, much has happened over past year: disagreements between the socialists and ACUM, a change of government, a pandemic, and an economic crisis. But no one, according to Dodon, can deny that "today the atmosphere in the country is completely different than a year ago, "Citizens, civil servants, entrepreneurs - they all feel freer, more confident that they can carry out their professional and social responsibilities, make plans for life." At the same time, as Dodon emphasized, “we should keep in mind that the oligarchs Plahotniuc and Shor left the country, but did not abandon the idea of ​​taking power in Moldova again”. “Their task now is to destabilize the political situation in Moldova, dissolve the government, manipulate Maia Sandu and Andrei Nestase, penetrate into the new government with the help of the “Shor” and Pro-Moldova parliamentary groups, thus avenging and blocking the billion theft and power usurpation investigation." According to Dodon, this explains all the recent media attacks on state institutions, as well as attempts to create the Sandu-Candu-Plahotniuc-Shor alliances. However, as the president assured, the country's authorities and people “will not allow either the oligarchic regime to return or political, social and economic chaos to be established”.  “Those who defeated them on June 8 last year will from now on defeat them every time. The oligarchy period is over, forever."