Tension running high in Chisinau

The political crisis in Chisinau is far from being over, despite the swearing in of a new Cabinet led by Pavel Filip on Wednesday.

Bogdan Matei, 21.01.2016, 13:42

If no Government had been approved in Moldova by January 29, president Nicolae Timofti would have been forced to call early elections, a scenario in all likelihood favouring the pro-Moscow Socialist and Populist left. The very prospect of snap elections determined 57 of the total of 101 MPs to give their vote of confidence for the program and structure of the Filip Cabinet, in what has been described an almost secret Parliament session.

Most of the 57 MPs belong to the Democratic Party, the party of the new Prime Minister, and to the Liberal Party. Adding to them is a group of former communist MPs and Liberal-Democrats, now in opposition. Unhappy with the decision to call off the snap elections, the several-thousand-strong crowd outside Parliament took the building by storm, breaking through police barricades.

13 people were wounded in the ensuing clashes between the furious protesters and the riot police, including eight policemen and, the former interim president of the Republic, Mihai Ghimpu. Analyst Iulian Chifu, head of the Centre for Conflict Prevention and former advisor to president Traian Basescu, told Radio Romania that just as the crowd was mounting its assault on the Parliament building, populist leader Renato Usatyi and Socialist leader Igor Dodon were landing on the airport in Chisinau from their trip to Moscow, where they received proper “instructions”.

At the swearing-in ceremony, president Nicolae Timofti said the people’s support was key to the success of Government policies. Representatives of international bodies in Chisinau have urged the authorities to keep calm and prevent the situation from escalating. In turn, Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos underlined the importance of a stable Government in Chisinau, that should carry out the necessary economic and social reforms.

The EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, has encouraged all parties with an interest in the Republic of Moldova to engage in a dialogue so as to decide on the future course of action. According to analyst Iulian Chifu, only a sweeping reform of state institutions would persuade the IMF and neighbouring Romania to continue to give out the loans that Moldova so dearly needs. Unless Moldova embarks on this task, Iulian Chifu argues, Moldova faces financial bankruptcy and eventually, political gridlock.

Tension running high in Chisinau

The political crisis in Chisinau is far from being over, despite the swearing in of a new Cabinet led by Pavel Filip on Wednesday.

If no Government had been approved in Moldova by January 29, president Nicolae Timofti would have been forced to call early elections, a scenario in all likelihood favouring the pro-Moscow Socialist and Populist left. The very prospect of snap elections determined 57 of the total of 101 MPs to give their vote of confidence for the program and structure of the Filip Cabinet, in what has been described an almost secret Parliament session.

Most of the 57 MPs belong to the Democratic Party, the party of the new Prime Minister, and to the Liberal Party. Adding to them is a group of former communist MPs and Liberal-Democrats, now in opposition. Unhappy with the decision to call off the snap elections, the several-thousand-strong crowd outside Parliament took the building by storm, breaking through police barricades.

13 people were wounded in the ensuing clashes between the furious protesters and the riot police, including eight policemen and, the former interim president of the Republic, Mihai Ghimpu. Analyst Iulian Chifu, head of the Centre for Conflict Prevention and former advisor to president Traian Basescu, told Radio Romania that just as the crowd was mounting its assault on the Parliament building, populist leader Renato Usatyi and Socialist leader Igor Dodon were landing on the airport in Chisinau from their trip to Moscow, where they received proper “instructions”.

At the swearing-in ceremony, president Nicolae Timofti said the people’s support was key to the success of Government policies. Representatives of international bodies in Chisinau have urged the authorities to keep calm and prevent the situation from escalating. In turn, Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos underlined the importance of a stable Government in Chisinau, that should carry out the necessary economic and social reforms.

The EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, has encouraged all parties with an interest in the Republic of Moldova to engage in a dialogue so as to decide on the future course of action. According to analyst Iulian Chifu, only a sweeping reform of state institutions would persuade the IMF and neighbouring Romania to continue to give out the loans that Moldova so dearly needs. Unless Moldova embarks on this task, Iulian Chifu argues, Moldova faces financial bankruptcy and eventually, political gridlock.