5 April 2009 - Elections Day, who is who in Moldova's politics Options

[Dacul liber]

Moldova has decided the day of its parliamentary elections: April 5.

Unlike the U.S. elections that took some two years, in Moldova, the elections will last two months. The positive side of it - less cost involved in this poor(est) country in Europe. The negative side - the opposition will have less time to organize itself to come with a competitive campaign to win the elections. And the ruling coalition (since 2005) of the Communist Party (of Vladimir Voronin) and of the Christian Democrats of Iurie Rosca have full control of Moldova's most influential media - TV outlets that have national coverage in Moldova.

Besides, the opposition is fragmented and a few parties have chances to pass the 6% threshold. Since most parties are built on the personality of one leader and these leaders hate each other, I do not see how small parties will be able to unite under one party list to be a viable alternative for electorate (coalitions of parties are prohibited by law, "thanks" to the vote of the Communists and their ally, the Christian Democrats). The only exception is the unification of the National Liberal Party (headed by Vitalia Pavlicenco) and the National Romanian Party with the European Action Movement.

If this is not enough, there is another obstacle for the opposition - the recent amendments in the elections law where Moldovans who hold dual citizenship (mostly Romanian) are prohibited to hold public office, including member of parliament. The same duet (Communists & Christian Democrats) did it.

Who can tell me what "hope" and "change" (to borrow Barack Obama's winning slogans) can opposition in Moldova bring to the voters in this precarious situation they dug themselves in?

Are there signs of further merging and unification of parties? Or are these Moldovan party bosses political kamikazes?

[Vlad Spanu]

http://politicom.moldova.org/news/tenth-pa...182503-eng.html

Moldovan Diaspora groups asking for more voting stations abroad

Non-governmental organizations representing Moldovan Diaspora abroad have sent an open letter to the leadership of the Republic of Moldova asking for opening more polling stations abroad in order to facilitate voting for some 500 thousand to one million citizens of Moldova working abroad. The Parliamentary elections are set for April 5, 2009.


Full text of the letter

Open letter: We Ask for Respecting Our Right to Vote

11 February 2009

Mr. Vladimir Voronin, President of the Republic of Moldova
Mr. Marian Lupu, President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
Mrs. Zinaida Grecianîi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova
Mr. Eugeniu Stirbu, President of the Central Electoral Commission

We, the representatives of the community of citizens of the Republic of Moldova permanently or temporarily residing abroad, ask the leadership of the Republic of Moldova to assure us the right to vote, a right guaranteed by the Constitution (Art. 38), but a right which we cannot at times exercise.

Official and unofficial statistics suggest that today, approximately five hundred thousand to one million citizens of the Republic of Moldova reside abroad. Contrastingly, in the parliamentary elections of 2001, only 3806 citizens outside of the country have voted, while in 2005, just 10018 cast their ballots at 23 electoral locations at embassies and consulates of the Republic of Moldova.

The main cause of the lack of participation at elections by the citizens of Moldova abroad is due to the small number of voting stations. For example, Moldovan citizens living in Northern Italy would have to travel hundreds of kilometers to Rome to cast their vote. Similar situations are found in Portugal, Romania, Russia and the United States, just to name a few. Furthermore, some Moldovans are in an impossible situation to vote at all in their countries of residence, where the Republic of Moldova doesn’t have diplomatic missions or consulates; Canada, Ireland, as well as Spain are prominent examples in this case.

We request the government of the Republic of Moldova to open multiple voting stations where communities of Moldovan citizens are concentrated.

Also, we ask the head of the Parliament and the political parties represented in the Parliament to initiate modifications in the electoral legislation permitting voting by Internet or mail ballots, as is practiced in many countries. In the conditions that the Government of the Republic of Moldova expresses its desire to develop close relationship with the Moldovan Diaspora abroad, it is natural to encourage an active implication of these citizens in the process of political, economical and social reform in the Republic of Moldova.

We would like to take part in the election of the new legislative that would represent us, the ones who have decided to travel abroad for employment or education. Many of us maintain a strong relationship and genuine interest for the events happening in the Republic of Moldova. On an annual basis the citizens of Moldova abroad, transfer over one billion US Dollars back home, contributing to improving economic index, achieving a balanced budget, and maintaining the purchasing power of the Moldovan leu.

We would also like to ask international organizations – the Council of Europe, OSCE - as well as the European Union, governments aiding the Republic of Moldova to monitor Moldova’s parliamentary election and, eventually, to provide financial assistance and expertise to the Republic of Moldova, encouraging the Moldovan authorities to respond positively to our appeal.

Co-signers: Nongovernmental Organizations representing the community of citizens of the Republic of Moldova abroad:

Anatolie Gavriliuc, Founder, LaBordei.com – DBA The Community of Bessarabian Romanians in USA (Phoenix, USA)
Doina Babenco, President, Italia-Moldova Institute for Cooperation and Development (Trieste, Italy)
Elisaveta Babei, President, Association of the Moldovan Community in Ireland (Dublin, Ireland)
Maria Iancu, President, Frăţia Association (Setubal, Portugal)
Natalia Moraru, President, DOINA Socio-Cultural Association (Rome, Italy)
Olesea Zmincila, Editor in Chief, Mondomigranti Newspaper (Bologna, Italy)
Tatiana Nogailic, President, Assomoldave-Associazione donne moldave in Italia (Rome, Italy)
Tudor Spataru, President, Moldova for Democracy and Development Foundation (New York, USA)
Vlad Spânu, President, Moldova Foundation (Washington, USA)

Co-signed after 11 February:
Tudor G. Grosu, President, "Mihai Eminescu" Socio-Cultural Association (Reggio Emilia, Italy)
Vasile Binzar, President, Association of Moldovan Emigrants in USA (Tampa, USA)
Serafim Florea, President, Association of United Moldovan Communities (ACUM) – COMUNISON (London, Great Britain)
Eduard Gherciu, President, Association of Moldovans in Italy -- ''Moldovenii în Lume'' (Rome, Italy)
Rotaru Vitalie, President, Moldova Cultural Association (Trento, Italy)
Elena Putina, President, Speranta Association ( Torino. Italy)

(Letter is opened for signing by other organizations - send message to foundation@moldova.org)

[Vlad Spanu]

Moldova: "Nyet" to Additional Polling Stations Abroad

February 19, 2009

Moldova’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has ignored requests of non-governmental organizations representing Moldovan Diaspora to open additional polling stations abroad for parliamentary elections scheduled for April 5th, 2009. Full text...

[Vlad Spanu]

Thousands in Moldova want nationals abroad to have vote (Reuters)

Sunday, 22 February 2009

Thousands of opposition supporters rallied on Sunday to demand Moldovans working abroad be given the chance to vote in an April parliamentary election. The full text...

[Vlad Spanu]

DECLARATION OF THE PRE-ELECTORAL MISSION OF PACE IN MOLDOVA
PACE (France)
March 6, 2009

A pre-electoral delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), visiting Chisinau on the eve of the parliamentary elections of 5 April 2009, has noted considerable pluralism in the political landscape of the country.

However, the delegation stresses that, despite the repeated recommendations of the Assembly and other bodies of the Council of Europe, a number of concerns continue to subsist during this electoral campaign.

More precisely, the pre-electoral delegation was informed of the following issues: use of administrative resources for the campaign, cases of pressure or intimidation, accuracy of voters’ lists.

The delegation welcomes the pluralism of opinions in the print media but is preoccupied by the problem of equal access of all political parties to the broadcast media, particularly those TV channels with nationwide coverage.

The PACE pre-electoral delegation notes that the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, in its October 2008 opinion, concluded that the revised Electoral Code of Moldova “provides a good basis for the organisation of genuinely democratic elections”, while adding that some of its recommendations have not been reflected in the revised text.

The delegation considers that the parliamentary elections of 5 April 2009 will be a test of the maturity of democracy in Moldova, as its citizens will elect 101 members of the Parliament, which will then elect the new President of the country. It calls on the authorities of Moldova to eliminate the problems identified in electoral practice and to implement the recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly contained in its Resolution 1572 (2007).

The delegation stresses that democratic elections are not limited only to voting day. The authorities of the country and all political actors have a huge responsibility to ensure the necessary conditions for the free expression of the will of all citizens of the Republic of Moldova.

The pre-electoral delegation has been assured by the authorities of Moldova, as well as by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), that all measures will be taken to eradicate the problems identified in order to guarantee the democratic character of these parliamentary elections.

The pre-election delegation met Marian Lupu, the Speaker of the Parliament, Vitalie Pirlog, the Justice Minister, the Chairman and members of the Central Election Commission (CEC), leaders of political parties participating in these elections, representatives of the mass media, civil society and the international community.

The Parliamentary Assembly will send a 20-member delegation to observe the parliamentary elections on 5 April 2009.

Members of the delegation: Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), Head ad interim of the delegation, and Ioannis Banias (Greece, UEL). PACE contact: Chemavon Chahbazian, Inter-parliamentary co-operation and election observation, tel: +33 6 62 26 54 89

[Vlad Spanu]

MOLDOVANS WORKING ABROAD ALLOWED VOTING WITH EXPIRED PASSPORTS
Moldpres (Moldova; state news agency)
March 5, 2009

Moldovans working abroad will be able to vote at the 5 April parliamentary election, including on the basis of outdated deadline. The Central Election Commission (CEC) Thursday listed again the identity documents which allow citizens to participate in the polls. Thus, the CEC informed that on 5 April, people residing in Moldova will have to present the following documents: the identity card, along with the additional leaf, the former-Soviet passport (the 1974 model), the temporary identity card - F-9 model, or the military booklet for servicemen. The CEC said that the local residents will not be able to vote using an expired ID. Moldovans working abroad will participate in the ballot using their passports, sailor booklets, including expired ones.

[William Crowther]

The Latter.

Moldova has decided the day of its parliamentary elections: April 5.

Unlike the U.S. elections that took some two years, in Moldova, the elections will last two months. The positive side of it - less cost involved in this poor(est) country in Europe. The negative side - the opposition will have less time to organize itself to come with a competitive campaign to win the elections. And the ruling coalition (since 2005) of the Communist Party (of Vladimir Voronin) and of the Christian Democrats of Iurie Rosca have full control of Moldova's most influential media - TV outlets that have national coverage in Moldova.

Besides, the opposition is fragmented and a few parties have chances to pass the 6% threshold. Since most parties are built on the personality of one leader and these leaders hate each other, I do not see how small parties will be able to unite under one party list to be a viable alternative for electorate (coalitions of parties are prohibited by law, "thanks" to the vote of the Communists and their ally, the Christian Democrats). The only exception is the unification of the National Liberal Party (headed by Vitalia Pavlicenco) and the National Romanian Party with the European Action Movement.

If this is not enough, there is another obstacle for the opposition - the recent amendments in the elections law where Moldovans who hold dual citizenship (mostly Romanian) are prohibited to hold public office, including member of parliament. The same duet (Communists & Christian Democrats) did it.

Who can tell me what "hope" and "change" (to borrow Barack Obama's winning slogans) can opposition in Moldova bring to the voters in this precarious situation they dug themselves in?

Are there signs of further merging and unification of parties? Or are these Moldovan party bosses political kamikazes?

[Dinu Popa]

I hope, Mr. Crowther you're not one of those Western communists who regrets the fall of Soviet Union. Unfortunately Moldova is getting too much attention from the frustrated left wing extremists and too little attention from grown-up Western politicians.

Yes - we don't have good party leaders, not yet. But we also don't have the luxury of time. We can't just sit and wait untill our young generations grow up, get their degrees in nice Western schools and come back to help us. There is a chance that they will never come back. So we have to make a good use of whatever "political kamikazes" we have now.

Actualy there are some signs that PL, PLDM, AMN and PD may work together after the elections. Considering all the poll numbers were've seen so far there is a chance that Communists will get no more that 20-30% and liberals + AMN + democrats will have a total of 40-50%.

I know that for some Europeans and Americans it's easier to talk to one "boss" in an Eastern European country than to a number of bickering party leaders, but Moldova will simply disintegrate if Communists don't get kicked out this April. We already have an entire generation of kids growing without their parents becuse all the adults are in Italy, Spain and Portugal trying to earn a living. We have another generation of kids that is getting a very low level of education in schools because all the good teachers left. We have many broken generations coming, if we don't do something now that little Moldova may be simply swallowed by the Russian bear in the next 10 years.

[Vlad Spanu]

Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the U.S. Congress' Helsinki Commission, calls for fair elections in Moldova.

Now, it is Moldovan authorities' turn to show that they are able to keep their promises to conduct free and fair elections. In 2005 and 2007, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) found that elections:

• 2005: "fell short of some that are central to a genuinely competitive election process,” in particular “campaign conditions and access to media,” confirming “negative trends already noted in the 2003 local elections”.
• 2007: “fell short of a number of OSCE Commitments central to a competitive electoral process,” in particular “the right of citizens to seek public office and equitable media access,” which were not fully respected...

[Dinu Popa]

A somehow short-sighted vision of the elections in Moldova, but even this little story is better than nothing : )

I don't think these elections are about Unification with Romania, they are mostly about kicking out the communists and returning to some kind of normality.

---

REUNIFICATION WITH ROMANIA?
EU Dreams in Communist Moldova

By Uwe Klussmann in Moldova

Europe's last Communist regime is looking increasingly shaky. The population in Moldova, which holds parliamentary elections this Sunday, wants reunification with Romania -- and the EU membership it would bring.

German reunification is an increasingly common topic of conversation these days in Moldova, the poorest part of Europe. In the run-up to parliamentary elections on April 5, opposition parties calling for closer links, or even a union, with EU member state Romania are enjoying massive support.

Moldova, a Romanian-speaking country on the south-western border of Ukraine, was part of Romania from 1918 to 1940, and approximately 800,000 of Moldova's current 3.4 million inhabitants have already applied for Romanian citizenship. "If Romanians and Moldovans decide in favor of a union, the EU will not oppose them," says one European diplomat confidently. After all, he says, the Germans had created a precedent with the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic, is located in a region of geo-political tension between Moscow and the West. The country is neutral and belongs to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional organization of former Soviet republics. Russian troops have kept the peace in the country's breakaway region of Transnistria since a 1992 cease-fire ended a secessionist war. At the same time, they are cementing Russian influence in the region, which is home to around half a million people. The explosive situation is comparable to that in South Ossetia, which sparked a war between Georgia and Russia last August.

The party most keen to keep Moldova independent is the Communist Party, which has ruled the country for eight years. It draws strength from the fact that the poor region enjoyed a significant boom during the Soviet era. For years, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, who leads the Communist Party, spurred the electorate with hopes for a "rebirth of the socialist community." Now he's taking a more pro-Europe stance.

The graying party functionary still lays Soviet-style wreaths at Lenin monuments on holidays and the Communist Party program still invokes the "volcano of social creativity, born in the revolution." The Communist Party is popular with their German comrades in the far-left Left Party, whose delegations get driven through the country's sunny wine country in Russian Volga cars. The Left Party members rave about their "friendly" and "warm" Moldovan counterparts.

'We Have No Fear'

Those affable Communists, though, are becoming less and less popular among their own people. The only people who listen obediently to Voronin's monotonous speeches are pensioners in worn coats. Speaking in a cultural center in Ustia, a village in the east of the country, he promises that they will soon "be no worse off than the people in the cities."

A Communist election poster, glued to the door of a grocery store, shows a beautiful young woman with impeccable teeth and the slogan: "We are building a European Moldova together." But there is little sign of young beauties with perfect smiles in the village. The customers coming into the store are mainly long-term unemployed with missing teeth. "The young people have gone to Russia or Europe," says Mikhail, a villager in his late fifties. "They are building their futures there."

Among those who are left behind, there are frequent outbursts of rage at the corrupt Communist Party regime, which has helped the president's son Oleg become one of the richest "biznesmen" in the country. The average monthly wage is €175 ($232). "We have no fear" is the slogan at a rally of liberal and right-wing opposition parties in the capital Chisinau, attended by some 30,000 people.

The source of that fear is the country's Information and Security Service, which is headed by a presidential confidant. The intelligence agency is located in a stone building surrounded by rolls of barbed wire on the capital's August 31 Street. In private, its officers boast that they have opposition politicians "under control" -- in other words, blackmailed and bought. The Communist Party plans to enthrone a successor to Voronin, who is barred by the constitution from serving another term, after the election.

Anyone who wants to resist the regime needs to endure a lot -- like Serafim Urechean, leader of the largest opposition party, Our Moldova. Urechean, the ex-mayor of Chisinau and a former Communist Party functionary, sits in his office surrounded by nine icons. He has survived five criminal proceedings, mainly related to abuse of authority, launched by the public prosecutor, which does the government's bidding. Urechean, who has a certain godfather-style charm, sees himself as a savior of the fatherland and a future president. He wants to bring the country into the EU as part of an alliance with Romania.

Dorin Chirtoaca, for his part, dreams of a Greater Romania -- one that includes Moldova. Chirtoaca is the energetic current mayor of Chisinau, belongs to the Liberal Party and has studied in the Romanian capital Bucharest. But his dreamt-of reunification would almost certainly take place without the Russian-speaking region of Transnistria, which suffered so much under Nazi-allied Romania during World War II that full reunification seems unlikely.

The self-proclaimed president of Transnistria, Igor Smirnov, who is not recognized internationally, says his territory would not join Romania. "You should not confuse us with East Germany," he says. "We are not East Germany and Moldova is not West Germany."

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe...,617005,00.html

[Guest_Guest_Aliona_*_*]

A somehow short-sighted vision of the elections in Moldova, but even this little story is better than nothing : )

I don't think these elections are about Unification with Romania, they are mostly about kicking out the communists and returning to some kind of normality.

---

REUNIFICATION WITH ROMANIA?
EU Dreams in Communist Moldova

By Uwe Klussmann in Moldova

Europe's last Communist regime is looking increasingly shaky. The population in Moldova, which holds parliamentary elections this Sunday, wants reunification with Romania -- and the EU membership it would bring.

German reunification is an increasingly common topic of conversation these days in Moldova, the poorest part of Europe. In the run-up to parliamentary elections on April 5, opposition parties calling for closer links, or even a union, with EU member state Romania are enjoying massive support.

Moldova, a Romanian-speaking country on the south-western border of Ukraine, was part of Romania from 1918 to 1940, and approximately 800,000 of Moldova's current 3.4 million inhabitants have already applied for Romanian citizenship. "If Romanians and Moldovans decide in favor of a union, the EU will not oppose them," says one European diplomat confidently. After all, he says, the Germans had created a precedent with the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic, is located in a region of geo-political tension between Moscow and the West. The country is neutral and belongs to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional organization of former Soviet republics. Russian troops have kept the peace in the country's breakaway region of Transnistria since a 1992 cease-fire ended a secessionist war. At the same time, they are cementing Russian influence in the region, which is home to around half a million people. The explosive situation is comparable to that in South Ossetia, which sparked a war between Georgia and Russia last August.

The party most keen to keep Moldova independent is the Communist Party, which has ruled the country for eight years. It draws strength from the fact that the poor region enjoyed a significant boom during the Soviet era. For years, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, who leads the Communist Party, spurred the electorate with hopes for a "rebirth of the socialist community." Now he's taking a more pro-Europe stance.

The graying party functionary still lays Soviet-style wreaths at Lenin monuments on holidays and the Communist Party program still invokes the "volcano of social creativity, born in the revolution." The Communist Party is popular with their German comrades in the far-left Left Party, whose delegations get driven through the country's sunny wine country in Russian Volga cars. The Left Party members rave about their "friendly" and "warm" Moldovan counterparts.

'We Have No Fear'

Those affable Communists, though, are becoming less and less popular among their own people. The only people who listen obediently to Voronin's monotonous speeches are pensioners in worn coats. Speaking in a cultural center in Ustia, a village in the east of the country, he promises that they will soon "be no worse off than the people in the cities."

A Communist election poster, glued to the door of a grocery store, shows a beautiful young woman with impeccable teeth and the slogan: "We are building a European Moldova together." But there is little sign of young beauties with perfect smiles in the village. The customers coming into the store are mainly long-term unemployed with missing teeth. "The young people have gone to Russia or Europe," says Mikhail, a villager in his late fifties. "They are building their futures there."

Among those who are left behind, there are frequent outbursts of rage at the corrupt Communist Party regime, which has helped the president's son Oleg become one of the richest "biznesmen" in the country. The average monthly wage is €175 ($232). "We have no fear" is the slogan at a rally of liberal and right-wing opposition parties in the capital Chisinau, attended by some 30,000 people.

The source of that fear is the country's Information and Security Service, which is headed by a presidential confidant. The intelligence agency is located in a stone building surrounded by rolls of barbed wire on the capital's August 31 Street. In private, its officers boast that they have opposition politicians "under control" -- in other words, blackmailed and bought. The Communist Party plans to enthrone a successor to Voronin, who is barred by the constitution from serving another term, after the election.

Anyone who wants to resist the regime needs to endure a lot -- like Serafim Urechean, leader of the largest opposition party, Our Moldova. Urechean, the ex-mayor of Chisinau and a former Communist Party functionary, sits in his office surrounded by nine icons. He has survived five criminal proceedings, mainly related to abuse of authority, launched by the public prosecutor, which does the government's bidding. Urechean, who has a certain godfather-style charm, sees himself as a savior of the fatherland and a future president. He wants to bring the country into the EU as part of an alliance with Romania.

Dorin Chirtoaca, for his part, dreams of a Greater Romania -- one that includes Moldova. Chirtoaca is the energetic current mayor of Chisinau, belongs to the Liberal Party and has studied in the Romanian capital Bucharest. But his dreamt-of reunification would almost certainly take place without the Russian-speaking region of Transnistria, which suffered so much under Nazi-allied Romania during World War II that full reunification seems unlikely.

The self-proclaimed president of Transnistria, Igor Smirnov, who is not recognized internationally, says his territory would not join Romania. "You should not confuse us with East Germany," he says. "We are not East Germany and Moldova is not West Germany."

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe...,617005,00.html

[zergerenok]

Anyone made it to the Odessa April Fools Day Festival? I hear that its a great time Id love to go, but my the Russian Government still feels the need to keep my passport, going on 4 weeks now to issue a multi-entry visa. Anyway, Id love to hear a report on this event. Maybe it would be a nice for next years calendar?
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