Bloodshed Averted! Political Crisis in Moldova Prevented By New Majority Coalition in Parliament!

The severe political crisis in Moldova, which we talked about a week ago, is, fortunately, being resolved bloodlessly. Although the country's trajectory was still unclear last Thursday, it's now already clear that the created coalition of the majority in parliament - President Dodon's socialists and Maia Sandu's pro-European - is capable of action.

The severe political crisis in Moldova, which we talked about a week ago, is, fortunately, being resolved bloodlessly. Although the country's trajectory was still unclear last Thursday, it's now already clear that the created coalition of the majority in parliament — President Dodon's socialists and Maia Sandu's pro-European — is capable of action. The government, headed by Maia Sandu, confirmed its legitimacy. At the end of the week, the Moldovan Constitutional Court overturned its decision to dissolve parliament. And the richest man in Moldova, Poroshenko's friend, the insidious oligarch, and leader of the Democratic Party, Plahotniuc, left the country. Some of Plahotniuc's pals followed his example. The new government enjoys the support of Russia, as well as America and Europe, which is a rare thing per se.

Here's Daria Okuneva reporting from Chisinau.

 

The dual power in Moldova lasted less than a week. By the weekend, the Democrats unblocked all of the government agencies, the protesters left, and they managed to clean the square after them. A new cabinet, headed by Maia Sandu, is already working in the building of the government. Now, the country's constitutional court agrees: the new government formed by the Socialists and the pro-European bloc is legitimate. All of the talks in the streets is about the release from Vladimir Plahotniuc. The oligarch and the leader of the Democrats, in fact, ran the country for four years. He built his policy on three pillars: bribery, corruption, and Russophobia. We paid taxes that Plahoniuc received.

"Who received 20% from electricity and gas?"

"Don't you see what the Constitutional Court did? It's clear to everyone that they made a mistake. It's unclear only to Plahoniuc. It's unclear only to the customer. I've always supported Dodon".

"I think that he's a smart and honest person and will do everything. We don't want a war like in Ukraine".

Everyone in Chisinau is happy that everything passed bloodlessly. In the middle of the week, the situation was extremely escalated. Vladimir Plahotniuc flatly refused to recognize the resignation of Philip's government, controlled by him. They brought people from the villages to block all of the government agencies. They protested sluggishly, mostly laying down, but persistently.

"We don't have money to go to a resort, so we're taking a break here".

"Don't you see that we're having a picnic? In Europe, right near the parliament building".

While there was a lying protest, Plahotniuc tried to find support in the USA. The EU and Russia almost immediately recognized the newly elected government. Behind closed doors, the Democratic party led negotiations with the American ambassador. The Plahotniuc's people urgently flew to Washington. On the margins, they said that Plahotniuc is trying to play on Russophobia, frightening the West with the fact that the new government would re-animate the old project to form a federation with Transnistria. Under these conditions, the Moldovan president called on coalition supporters to go to a rally.

Igor Dodon, President of Moldova: "We've decided to urge our supporters to hold a popular march on June 16th at 11 a.m. to support the new government. It'll be a peaceful march".

The threat of clashes in Chisinau became real. But without support from abroad, Plahotniuc wasn't ready to go against the people. The Democrats didn't receive support, they had to go to the opposition peacefully.

Vladimir Chebotar, Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party: "The Democratic Party steps down from power and goes into the opposition. This is the only legal way to conduct this procedure in that legal situation. Thus, the prime minister and all of the ministers resign, today".

As if on command, the protesters began to pack up to go home. They were frustrated only by the fact that lying down is no longer paid.

"Why not leave? Of course, we're already leaving. Our vacation is over, and we go to work. We'll go to Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, or Paraguay".

Plahotniuc also hurried home to Switzerland. His family lives there, as well as, probably, his savings. It's dangerous for him to stay in Moldova. The new prime minister, Maia Sandu, insists that the investigation of the crime of the century be reopened — the withdrawal of one billion euros from the country's banking system. They suspect that Plahotniuc is involved in it. And the independent investigation bureau RISE Moldova accuses him of tapping the phones of the opposition and independent journalists.

Igor Dodon, President of Moldova: "New bodies, new people in the prosecutor's office and the judicial system should deal with it. He has the status of a deputy, which gives a certain immunity. Therefore, there's a certain procedure by which it can be solved. It isn't us who will deal with it. There are judicial institutions that should be fair, open, and obey the law, but not in the way it happened until now".

The president of Moldova has also promised that after Plahotniuc left that relations with Russia would improve.

Igor Dodon, President of Moldova: "In the last 2.5-3 years, the Moldovan government has blocked almost all contacts with Russia. In the last two and a half years, almost all of the relations with Russia have only been maintained at the level of the president. I'm sure that with the new government, we'll have quite good relations with Russia".

In the small town of Vatra, they want to believe these promises. Almost half of 2,500 residents left the town. They mostly left for Russia to work there. Now, they send money to their parents who stayed here. Under Plahotniuc, pensions reached a historic low.

Svetlana Kolesnichenko: Forty.

- Forty euros?

- Yes. Am I right?

- Is it possible to live on that money?

- Are you kidding? I pay three times as much for gas alone per month in the winter.

Those who don't leave for Russia export goods there. They supply sweet cherries, potatoes, raspberries, grapes. They still can't establish export to the EU.

Denis Danila, Mayor of Vatra: "We're located in such a place that our fruit and vegetables are more popular in Russia because Ukraine and Romania have their own vegetables and don't need ours".

Big businesses, including the Moldovan winery Cricova, also consider Russia to be a strategic partner.

Alexander Alexeev, Retail Director of the Business and Tourism Center CRICOVA: "Currently, about eight million gallons of wine are stored in these unique cellars".

A considerable part of all of the wine produced at the enterprise will go to Russia. This year, Russia ended import duties for Moldovan producers. Now, the Russian market is considered to be a priority here.

Alexander Alexeev, Retail Director of the Business and Tourism Center CRICOVA: "The Russian market is very important to us. We plan to sell about a million bottles of champagne, wine, and cognac on the Russian market this year. We plan to increase the amount, especially since Russian consumers know us very well".

Many people had a desire to drink some sparkling wine to changes for the better. Therefore, despite the fact that the rally in support of the new government, scheduled for Sunday, was officially canceled, people came to Chisinau, no longer for a protest, but for a vacation.

Daria Okuneva and Mikhail Vikulin for Vesti Nedeli.