A New Coalition and Not Early Elections? What Were about the Sandu and Nastase Parties to Discuss with the Democrats

Vladimir ROTAR The pro-European opposition, contrary to the direct Brussels curators instructions, does not abandon attempts to form a new government and a ruling majority Not a day goes by for the public to find out of another tricky plan for Ion Chicu’s government demolition. The latter, in fact, has not yet lost the parliament majority support provided by fifty votes of the ruling coalition and the "sympathetic" independent deputy Alexander Oleinic. This, however, does not stop the endless flood of informing statements, at first glance, meaningless and divorced from reality. However, in stream of tedious news, sometimes interesting things appear. At least, quite unexpected was the news of some planned inter-party meeting combining PAS, DA and PDM. Let me remind you that the Democrats fraction, which has recently pretty much lost weight, is formally still in an alliance with the socialists and does not seem to be leaving it. Despite this, the topic of the meeting, as stated, was precisely to be the formation of a new government and a parliamentary majority. At the last moment, the Democrats decided to "get away" from this meeting, noting that "colleagues rushed about their agenda formulation." On the whole, it seems that the long ago coveted by the pro-Europeans process of persuading the Democrats to co-operation nevertheless began. Any, even the most inexperienced observer would immediately raise questions here. First, what kind of parliamentary majority were going to be discussed at the notorious meeting? If anyone forgot, the Democratic Party successfully cleared not only of Plahotniuc over the past year but also of half deputies of his own faction. In total, it turns out that three of the potential coalition candidates have a lot less than half: 15 (PAS) + 11 (DA) + 13 (PDM). Or, is it that this time opposition’s mathematics paradoxically composed? Logic hints that it’s obviously impossible to figure it out for three. And that points that at some stage, another ally will be needed. Evidently, this is not the Socialists Party - otherwise, what is the point of the new coalition solitaire? The SHOR party is also not an option: toxicity goes wild and you won’t get enough mandates with it. Not to mention the fact that it will be hard to explain such cooperation even to an undemanding voter. It’s not hard to guess, there remains only the Candu party (from yesterday), triumphantly taking away the melting PDM’s votes. The Pro Moldova offers are extremely pleasant - supporting the pro-European government without preconditions and additional requirements. On the other balance’ side one can feel a distinct " Vlad Plahotniuc’s high that decent Moldovan politician can nose out a mile. However, recently such an unspoken ACUM-Pro Moldova alliance was about to form: only Brussels’ emergency intervention saved the pro-European parties. Anyway, as practice shows, the EU influence is not absolute and the temptation to take power here and now is too great for some (like the DA platform, which has nothing to catch in early elections). In PAS, here and now there are enough people who want to take away the government reins from the hated socialists - the party is far from being as monolithic as is commonly thought. And the PAS members are far from being so disinterested like their leader Maia Sandu. In this context, the planned meeting, apparently, should have been the first step towards reducing PDM and Pro Moldova on the same track to the appointment of a new cabinet. But if the pro-Europeans think that it is they who control the course of the game they seem to be still mistaken. The Candu’s dissidents group skillfully spins Plahotniuc into a powerful party project, without which, according to the puppeteer's relative boasting “nothing more will happen in Moldovan politics”. This, incidentally, may well be close to truth. Plahotniuc crushes PDM with his own hands but instead he finally introduces a new figure into the game, through which he will influence Moldovan politics. The overthrow of the ruling coalition and the unsuccessful government of Chicu will be the first significant victory of the new project and the foundation for its further promotion. The Democratic Party has its own interests. After the losing a bunch of deputies, the disposition in the ruling alliance is clearly not in their favor: 13 socialists against 37 seats. Over the past months, the PSRM has given the Democrats enough tasty places in various state institutions. In addition, the government was reformatted, although before that many second and third (and somewhere first) people in the ministries remained “democratic”. In the current realities, many in PSRM may have a logical desire to remake the Moldovan pie “according to the tickets purchased”. Therefore, flirting democrats with pro-Europeans is beneficial to them for many reasons. For example to keep the allies in good shape (in fact, going to blackmail). It can also be regarded as an attempt to outline their future place in Moldovan politic in the event of real castling in parliament and government. Well, everything is more or less clear with the Democrats and the “Candus”. As for the pro-European opposition, by all means dumping the Chicu Cabinet, they still follow in the wake of other people's interests. Moreover, all these simple maneuvers are contrary to the opinion of European patrons, who publicly call for organizing early parliamentary elections in Moldova. PAS and DA are very at risk, getting involved in the undercover intrigues of former and current Plahotniuc’s proteges. Sitting at the same table with very unscrupulous players is risky, especially in Moldovan politics that infrequently forgives mistakes. So far, the more or less unsullied pro-Europeans’ image (primarily PAS) in the eyes of voters is the main asset that can be realized in the autumn elections and early parliamentary elections. The desire of many oppositionists to form a pro-European government right now and “on camera” wage a fierce struggle against corruption, gray schemes and oligarchs - but it’s stupid to do this with those who directly personify all these phenomena in Moldovan life.