Liberal Democrats' leader says party's duty to provide Moldova with stability

Chisinau, 21 February /MOLDPRES/ - Interview given by the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM), Vlad Filat to the MOLDPRES State News Agency

[Moldpres]: Mr. Filat, at last, Moldova has a government sworn in office. Which is your next target, of the party your lead, of your coalition colleagues?

[Filat]: Yes, indeed we have managed to vote for a new government, though, this process was longer and more difficult than I thought at the beginning, namely immediately after the elections. Now, it is very important that this government, we, all together move quickly and solve all those problems which gathered, many being generated by the situation of political instability through which Moldova passed. More specifically, now, we are to focus on solving problems related to the budgetary-fiscal policy, state budget, foreign exchange market, medicines market, petroleum products market, criminal situation, etc. We have to create all necessary conditions, in order to ensure further development of the economy, so that, in the end, to have new better-paid jobs, to have more money to increase salaries, pensions, allowances.

At last, but not at least, this stability that we got so difficultly is important for Moldova and in the context of events happening in our neighbourhood. The situation is complicated and we must know to face it.

[Moldpres]: All right, however the stability you talk about is not that safe, if we can say so. We have a minority coalition in the end, and not a majority one. Do you believe that, if the Liberal Party (PL) entered the coalition, would it be more stable?

[Filat]: You know that the negotiations on setting up a ruling coalition were not easy at all, as it may seem staying aside. But, what I can certainly tell you is that everything was done that PL be at ruling. It is totally different when, due to well known reasons, this was not possible. I will not remind all those details referring to the talks with the Liberals, as they were made public more times. I regret that the Liberals chose another way than that of a constructive dialogue, than that of a reasonable compromise and, as a result, they excluded themselves from the new Moldovan government.

[Moldpres]: The Communists voted for the new cabinet. Does it mean that we may talk about their participation in the government somehow?

[Filat]: Categorically, not! The Communists voted for the cabinet of ministers displaying a lot of responsibility and a good understanding of the situation Moldova found. But, they are not part of the government.

[Moldpres]: At a certain moment, ones talked that the Party of Communists had forwarded the condition to slow down the pace of Moldova’s European integration in exchange for votes.

[Filat]: The European integration cannot be negotiated. It is a very reasonable and very important process for the citizens, for Moldova’s future as state, in order to be part of the political negotiations. And it will be this way as long as PLDM determines the tonality of political events in Moldova.

[Moldpres]: Good, but the government is however a minority one and this means certain dangers too…

[Filat]: It is not for the first time when such a government without political majority coverage in the parliament does act in Moldova. For instance, in conditions similar with the present ones, the Sturza and Braghis governments ruled. I repeat: it is not the happiest solution, but we had no choice.

[Moldpres]: How, in such conditions, will the voting in the parliament be carried out?

[Filat]: The date of 20 February showed that each draft law may be voted. It only has to be rather well reasoned that most MPs not to have doubts that it is in Moldova’s interest.

[Moldpres]: It seems that the Gaburici government’s swearing in office might cost you Leanca’s quitting from the party. At least, to this item a lot of speculations are made …

[Filat]: I would not anticipate it. We are to see how things will further develop. But, what I want to say is that, regardless of what is to happen, PLDM will continue to give its attention to Moldova’s good government, to continue all processes we started in 2009 and which we are to carry out for the Moldovan citizens’ benefit. Moldova needs a responsible and efficient government and we will focus on this. By the way, as we have done so far, regardless of various less important or less pleasant political events that occurred.

[Moldpres]: Please, allow me insisting on and ask you: Why do you think Leanca did not vote for the Gaburici government?

[Filat]: For me his behaviour is strange too, as well as the arguments he presented publicly. Either, Mr. Leanca has initially supported the idea of a minority government, he was the one who accepted to forward his candidacy for the prime minister office as representative of a minority government. Besides, at that stage, the voting together with the Communists did not bother him at all, as he subsequently declared. Or, he voted together with the Communists for Andrian Candu to the post of parliament speaker and also he was the one who met the Communists and tried to get their vote for the government he proposed in the parliament. And the list of strange things in Leanca’s behaviour may be continued. For example, he voted for the candidacy of Chiril Gaburici in the party, but refused to back him in the parliament. By the way, it is not for the first time when Mr. Leanca acted otherwise than the party. For instance, when PLDM and our partner, the European People’s Party, supported Klaus Iohannis for Romania’s presidency, Mr. Leanca decided to back Victor Ponta. In the end, all these details regard Mr. Leanca and we can only observe these strange things in his behaviour.

[Moldpres]: In the end, I would like to ask you: How do you think will the political situation develop further?

[Filat]: Our task is to ensure stability in Moldova, as only this way we will be able to move forward and provide the citizens with a decent living. This is a priority for PLDM, which will be the corner stone of all our further actions and I hope that other parliamentary political formations will act the same way.

[Moldpres]: Thank you!

(Editor F. Galaico)