The president of the Republic of Moldova at the end of his term in office

he president of the ex-Soviet Republic of Moldova, Nicolae Timofti, on Wednesday is concluding his four-year term in office.

România Internațional, 22.03.2016, 12:26

A jurist by training, a judge during the Soviet regime and president of the Supreme Council of Magistracy after the Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence from Russia in 1991, 67-year old Nicolae Timofti was sworn in as president on March 23rd 2012. Pundits say that the record of his presidency is rather a mixed one. They argue that given the domestic and international circumstances, the president abided by his mandate and prerogatives and avoided causing political crises, managing to foster Chisinaus interests abroad.

The avowed pro-Western governments that ruled the republic during Timoftis term in office advocated the countrys European integration and succeeded in having the association and free trade agreements concluded with Brussels in 2014. However, the essential European reforms stagnated and the administration has been weakened by corruption. One billion dollars, tantamount to 15% of the countrys GDP, mysteriously disappeared from the countrys banking system, the scandal undermining government coalition parties, triggering the large-scale protests of civil society and fuelling voting intentions in favour of the pro-Russian parties. Elected by MPs, Timofti was a compromise solution and his power constantly depended on the parties political games as political analyst Iulian Chifu, an expert in the ex-Soviet area and former presidential advisor in Bucharest believes.

“From my point of view, he was a centrist president, a president who abided by his mandate and had an important role in deciding on the structure of the last Government, at a time when the country was on the verge of early elections, which might have sparked off instability in the Republic of Moldova. So, he assumed a direct role. I also believe that his position as president was underused by the political parties.

Political analyst in Chisinau, Anatol Taranu, highlights Timoftis foreign policy projects, particularly in defending the Republic of Moldovas interests in relationship with Russia and his excellent ties with his counterparts from neighbouring Romania, Traian Basescu and Klaus Iohannis. Anatol Taranu:

“Timofti did not hesitate to defend the Republic of Moldova and did not refrain from doing that in front of president Putin. Moreover, through the foreign policy measures, president Timofti permanently underscored the Republic of Moldovas commitment to the European values as well as to Romanian values.

Under the Moldovan Constitution, Timofti will continue to exert his prerogatives until the future president is sworn in. According to Parliaments decision, validated by the Constitutional Court, the new president will be elected by the citizens of the Republic of Moldova through direct vote and the ballot is going to be held this year.