Political analyst says Moldovan president to be suspended if not promulgating anti-propaganda law

Chisinau, 20 December /MOLDPRES/ - President Igor Dodon will be suspended, if he does not promulgate the anti-propaganda law – this is the only solution in the present political situation, according to expert, political analyst Anatol Taranu, who participated in a roundtable organized by the MOLDPRES Agency.   

“Dodon will be suspended, if he violates the laws and Constitution of Moldova, although it would be normal for the impeachment procedure to start (procedure of indictment). This is the legal way out of the situation and Igor Dodon is trying to trigger an impeachment, being aware that his rating is presently sufficiently high and he hopes to win the referendum during which his dismissal will be decided. Or, at that time, a large way will be opened to him, which he wants and which he has officially announced, towards the widening of the president’s powers with a sliding to a zone of authoritarian regime,’’ Taranu said.  

At the same time, the expert stressed that the president had not been elected to organize an authoritarian regime. ‘’In line with the democracy law, he is a president legally elected by the majority of the citizens; yet, in accordance with the same law of democracy, he is obliged to comply with the laws of this country. He can change them, initiate the amendment of these laws and then he will act how he will deem it fit, if the parliament accepts this. Yet, as long as the amendment of the laws has not occurred, the president is obliged to observe them. He took the oath of allegiance to the current laws and Constitution of Moldova, which he infringes,’’ Anatol Taranu noted.  

‘’While opposing the anti-propaganda law, Igor Dodon will confirm the suspicions that he appears as an agent of influence of a foreign country in Moldova,’’ the political analyst stressed.

The parliament on 7 December adopted a draft law on the amendment of the Audiovisual Code in the final reading with the votes of 61 lawmakers. The draft, called also the anti-propaganda law, is aimed at fighting the propaganda and manipulation from outside Moldova, which may bring serious damages to the state’s information security. Following the legislative amendments, the notion of “information security” will be introduced in the Audiovisual Code, which will imply a string of measures aimed at protecting Moldova’s citizens from misinformation and manipulation coming from outside the country.

President Igor Dodon today informed that he had returned the draft law on the amendment of the Audiovisual Code to parliament. He reiterated that this draft law is ‘’antidemocratic, aimed at limiting the freedom of expression and pluralism of opinions.’’

More information and comments on this subject can be watched in a video recording of the discussions, placed on the webpage of the MOLDPRES State News Agency (www.moldpres.md). 

(Reporter L. Grubîi, editor A. Raileanu)