Dodon and "sinner"

In Moldova, on November 13, the president of the country is chosen. The current elections are often discussed as a clash of two geopolitical orientations of Moldova - to Russia or the European Union. How much does this correspond to reality and what will change in Moldova after the election of a new head of state?

This is the second round of voting. In the first round of October 30 , Igor Dodon, candidate of the Socialist Party, won: in order to gain more than half the votes and win in the first round, he did not have two percent votes of voters. His rival is the leader of the Action and Solidarity party, ex-minister of Mayan Sandu , who supported about 39 percent of citizens who came to vote.

Igor Dodon is considered a pro -Russian politician. He met with Vladimir Putin several times, does not hide his admiration for the President of Russia and intends in the event of his election to achieve the rapprochement of Chisinau with Moscow. Maya Sandu, on the contrary, belongs to the pro -European politicians. At the same time, she sharply criticizes the current ruling coalition of legal parties, which also focus on the EU. Sandu claims that corruption in which coalition governments have been mired in recent years - the main trouble of Moldova and the reason that supporters of rapprochement with Russia and the EU in the country are now approximately equally - although five years ago there were much more.

Both candidates are not against the early parliamentary elections. Obviously, none of them want to work with parliament, most places in which belongs to the parties of the ruling coalition. Although, by the decision of the Constitutional Court, direct presidential elections were restored (before that, starting in 2000, the president chose the parliament), Moldova remains the parliamentary republic, and the powers of the head of state are small there. At the same time, judging by the surveys of public opinion, those voters who are still interested in politics - in the first round of elections, more than half of the citizens ignored the vote - they invest great hopes in the new head of state, whoever became them.

Maybe a woman is already sinful?

On the eve of the second round of the elections, there were no incriminating evidence. Her main victim was Maya Sandu, against which one of the hierarchs of the Moldavian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) spoke out. Markell, Bishop of Beltsian and Faleste, accused Sandu of "deviation from the norms of Christian morality." What, according to the bishop, is the problem of presidential candidate? The fact that she is not married and has no children. "Maybe a woman is already sinful?" - answered Maya Sandu with a rhetorical question. Bishop Markell, by the way, is not the first to speak out on political problems. In November 2013, when the then President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych wondered whether to sign an association agreement with the European Union (his negative choice was later provoked by Euromaidan), Bishop Beltsi signed an appeal in which Yanukovych called to reject the Eurcharosoma Union and make a choice between light and darkness.

Maya Sandu, in turn, accused Igor Dodon of scattering empty promises, namely, it promises to cancel the Russian embargo to many products of the Moldavian agricultural export. (It was introduced after the Transnistrian crisis of 2006. ) According to Sandu, Dodon, since he has such opportunities, there was every chance of doing this before 2009, when he served as Minister of Economics and Trade.

About how they see their possible presidency, their rival and prospects of the country, both candidates for the presidency of Moldova told in an interview with the Moldavian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (we give them with slight reductions). Let's start with Igor Dodon :

-At a press conference after the first round of the presidential election, you called for the consolidation of left-wing forces, turned to the left parties for support in the second round. Will this lead to an even greater split in Moldavian society?

- The right were consolidated in these elections around a single candidate. I think it is logical and quite natural that the left parties advocating the preservation of statehood are rallying in the name of victory in these elections. The consolidation of left -wing parties will provide a guaranteed victory in the second round.

“ But you will have to be president of all citizens.”

- After the victory in the second round, which, we hope, is provided to us, Igor Dodon will become the president of all citizens, regardless of the position, geopolitical views and identity of each of them. I promise to be president for those who see Moldova in the European Union, and for those who advocate for a closer relationship with the Russian Federation. I see that my political opponents are unleashed by geopolitical hysteria. Dodon Igor is not against Europe. Dodon Igor categorically will not allow Moldova to lose a visa -free regime. Dodon Igor is not against Romania. I believe that we need - and we will have - good relations with the European Union. We will ensure the continuity of partnership with the European Union, and with our friends in Romania, and with the Russian Federation.

- State Duma deputies stated that if Igor Dodon became president, it is possible that Moscow would begin negotiations to attract Moldova to the projects of the Eurasian Union. Hence the fears of your opponents that you will lead Moldova to the Eurasian Union in which Russia dominates.

- The president of the country has no such authority. The President does not have the right to revise the geopolitical vector, suspension or denunciation of agreements.

I would like to change the situation in the Republic of Moldova so that people believe in her future as Russians believe in the future of Russia

Yes, I advocate for strategic partnership and good relations with the Russian Federation. We need the Russian market, it is necessary to solve the problems of our migrants, of which there are hundreds of thousands in Russia. This does not mean that an iron curtain should appear on the rod . We cannot allow this, because hundreds of thousands of our compatriots are also working in the European Union, and because some of our exports are oriented towards the European Union. Partnership must be continued.

-One of the foreign Internet portals called you the Moldavian copy of Putin in miniature. Do you really want to be like Mr. Putin?

- I think it was a compliment to me. Mr. Putin did a lot for the Russian Federation, to strengthen statehood and patriotism. Naturally, I would also like to change the situation in the Republic of Moldova so that people believe in her future as Russians believe in the future of Russia.

- Despite the fact that Russia is now in isolation and this does not benefit the well -being of the country and the development of democracy? But here the ambassador of Ukraine to Moldova was withdrawn to Kyiv, and they say that the reason was your statement that sounded within the framework of the election debate, that Crimea belongs to Russia - this alarmed Kyiv. If you become the President of Moldova, how do you intend to cooperate with the Ukrainian authorities?

- On this issue they speculate excessively. The answer was as follows: de facto Crimea is now part of the Russian Federation, legally this fact is not recognized by the West and most countries. And I do not know whether it will be recognized in the foreseeable future. What will the Dodon President do-does it recognize or not? There are too many risks here. We have Transnistria . But in fact, at the moment Crimea is part of the Russian Federation. Legally, this is not recognized by anyone, including the Republic of Moldova.

Crimea is part of the Russian Federation. This is legally not recognized by anyone, including the Republic of Moldova

- Good relations between Chisinau and Kiev - how do you imagine them?

- Good relations with neighbors are required. And I promise that I will play for a partnership with our neighbors as the president. We will have the best relationship with Ukraine. There are problems with border demarcation, and many, many others that need to be solved-and which will be resolved.

“ Another point that raises a lot of questions is your idea regarding the federalization of Moldova.” Do you still share this point of view?

- The unification of Moldova is necessary. The only option in this regard is negotiations. The political decision consists in granting a Transnistria special status. We see the decision: the creation of a federal state. But, again, this is not the president decides. Negotiations are underway, a certain concept is being developed - first of all, at a bilateral level, Chisinau - Tiraspol, then the issue is discussed in the 5+2 format (Moldova, a self -proclaimed Transnistrian Republic, OSCE, Russia, Ukraine, the USA and the European Union. - RS) , and only after that is a referendum is appointed. Then people can decide whether they agree or not. We must reunite the country.

- In the election campaign, geopolitics continues to dominate. And what internal problems should the Republic of Moldova solve? And what can a new head of state do, how can he turn on in the search for acceptable and viable solutions of the problems that our citizens face?

- The biggest problems are corruption, justice, standard of living. And in this regard, the primary task of the next head of state is to make the first steps to withdraw the Republic of Moldova from the captivity of the oligarchs. My political opponent was with them, given that the oligarchic governments have repeatedly appointed it to the Minister.

The biggest problems are corruption, justice, standard of living

- What will you do if Maya Sandu wins?

- Maya Sandu has no way to win the elections. All polls indicate this. But even if she wins, why not? If she claims that he is not a person of Plahotnyuk, which is not included in the current oligarchic clan, then she needs to unite with the left opposition, who has a strong presence in parliament, to fight against the oligarchy, in order to pull out Moldova from captivity jointly. I think joint actions in this direction will be very useful, ”Igor Dodon believes.

And here is what Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Mayan Sandu answered questions :

- How can additional voices be attracted in conditions when in the first round more than half of the voters did not come to the vote?

- You need to ask yourself why these people did not come to polling stations. I think the reasons should be sought in the fact that people are disappointed in the political class and as managing the country all these years, as well as in obstacles to the voting process by the authorities. We repeatedly appealed to the authorities to facilitate the voting procedure for students, allow them to vote at the place of study, as was the case in the elections in 2014. We also asked the authorities to create optimal conditions for the vote of our compatriots abroad, for the diaspora.

- Your opponent Igor Dodon says that you are completely insincere and incorrect, that you have a lot of “skeletons in the closet”, which Mr. Dodon intends to put on public. Will you take part in the debate if they are organized?

- This Dodon dodged the debate. He showed disrespect for citizens. Dodon knows very well that I have no "skeletons". If I had some kind of "skeletons", he would have shown them for a long time. They never managed to find compromising evidence on me, and all that they were capable of is a lie.

- The role of the president is to engage in a foreign policy agenda. “In fact, Crimea is part of Russia, but this fact is not legally recognized,” Igor Dodon told free Europe. What do you think about this?

- My opinion is unequivocal: Crimea is part of Ukraine, occupied by the Russian Federation in violation of international law. To argue that Crimea is part of Russia is a form of state treason, especially in the conditions in which we are, the Republic of Moldova, where there is also an occupied region, which is controlled by a separatist regime.

My opinion is unequivocal: Crimea is part of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation

- In the elections of November 13, the geopolitical factor will be decisive?

- I know that my opponent is trying to turn this vote into geopolitical, because he has nothing to offer voters, except for fear. He wants to exploit this fear, which himself instilled in his campaign, which shares the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.

I do not agree that this campaign is geopolitical. For me, this is a campaign between those who are fighting corruption, and those who personify it. We need a strong state that can protect us from internal threats and from external. While we have a corrupt state, there is no one to protect us and there is no one to defend our interests. Now corruption for us is the biggest threat.

- How sure are you that in case of winning the West Support elections, you are provided with?

- I do not think that Western partners support a certain power or a specific person. They support citizens. When you do something correct-you are engaged in the fight against corruption, an increase in the standard of living of citizens, the construction of a legal state, then whoever promotes these values, if he does it honestly and sincerely, can count on the support of the West.

This power has no folk mandate

- During the election campaign, it was said about many troubles and problems that the Republic of Moldova faces - an investigation and return of the stolen billion, the reform of the prosecutor's office, the independence of justice, the struggle against huge corruption and nepotism. Without proper support in parliament and government, it is difficult to believe that the new president will be able to work miracles. But citizens believe that it is the head of state that will solve these problems ...

- The elections on October 30 showed that this power is illegitimate. This power does not have a folk mandate. And, accordingly, she cannot remain at the steering wheel for a long time. I understand that it will be difficult, and I know that the president does not have a lot of authority. But at the same time, if the president enjoys moral authority, he can count on the direct support of citizens.

And I will use all the levers that the president is endowed with, including public pressure, discussing problems in the press. I will go out with legislative initiatives, I will put pressure on state institutions - in order to force them to fulfill their duties. And in particular, to cleanse the political and state system from corrupt people.

A person like Dodon cannot win the elections

- I will ask the same question as Mr. Dodon: what will you do if your opponent wins in the election?

- A person like Dodon cannot win the elections, because we are much more.

- Do you suppose the next parliamentary elections? Or early? And what are the conditions of the latter?

- It is known that there are certain conditions under which early elections are held. But, given that the current parliamentary majority is illegitimate, I do not think that this parliament will reach the next elections, Maya Sandu believes.