Moldovan president says if Moldova becomes isolated, no resources to come on behalf of EU

Chisinau, 25 October /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova will no longer receive support on behalf of the European Union and will lose the liberalized visa regime, if people hostile to the European integration come to power. President Maia Sandu has made statements to this effect ten days before the runoff of the presidential elections.  

„Each man who voted consciously, who did not sell his/her vote, should manage to bring one man to vote. He/she should manage to explain to the one who sold his/her vote that this is a damaging decision not only for the country, but also for him/herself. And this beyond the quite high fine. But in general, who will pay them the social benefits? Where the compensations, where the increases in pensions will come from? We have these things due to the assistance on behalf of EU,’’ Maia Sandu said in an interview.

The head of state also referred to the people who do not care that roads were constructed, do not care that aqueducts and sewerage systems were constructed.  

„Unfortunately, we have people who do not appreciate these things, but they must thing also at very concrete things. The allowances for children which we have introduced: by 1,000 lei up to the age of two years. The allowances came both from domestic and external sources. The childbirth allowance: 20,000 lei. What governances gave such allowances? All this assistance, compensations… Yes, I know that it was difficult with the prices for energy, but we gave 7 billion lei in two winters, in order to compensate the tariffs. Most money came from our friends,’’ Maia Sandu noted.     

If the European integration way is ceased, then no assistance will come on behalf of EU and our citizens will no longer be able to travel to EU without visas.   

„If the things change and Moldova becomes isolated, then these resources will no longer come. We will also lose the free visa regime and the Europeans’ attitude towards the Moldovans who work in the European countries will change too; the construction of new roads and bridges will end, etc. Certainly, there is the risk for us to lose the liberalized visa regime. Have you seen the warning EU made to Georgia? How do you thing, what will happen if people checked by foreign interests come to power by fraud? ‘’ President Sandu stressed.    

The candidate of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) explained why Moldova now enjoyed unprecedented openness on behalf of the western chancelleries.  

„People ask me how I have managed to establish such good relations with the most important leaders of the world. I said them that the people know quite well, they are well informed, have their intelligence services, with whom they speak. They know when they meet an honest man or if they have in front of them a man who came to power through purchased votes. And they discuss namely with an honest man and do everything for him/her to help the country,’’ Maia Sandu also said.     

Referring to the results of the referendum on accession to EU, Maia Sandu specified that all calculations had showed a categorical victory in favour of those who said YES.

„When I saw the results of the referendum, it was clear to me that something was not all right. All calculations which we were making and not only we, including the opinion polls made at Russia’s order, showed a vote of 60 per cent for YES and a razor-thin vote at the presidential polls – or under 50 per cent or a bit more than 50 per cent in favour of me. When the results started appearing, it was something quite strange; it took us some time to understand what happened. It was clear that something was happening, as we knew that they tried to buy votes. The state's institutions said that they were making efforts to prevent this theft; we knew that there would be a certain number of stolen votes. But nobody expected such a scope; I recognize this,’’ Maia Sandu added.      

Those who voted NO at the referendum did not do it necessarily for money.

„There were several categories of people. This purchased vote changed the situation, as we should have had over 60 per cent at the referendum; but this does not mean that the other 40 per cent was bought. No. There are people who have, in continuation, some fears. That EU will take their land. This is a fake. Unfortunately, the propaganda of the thieves is strong. They have a lot of money and it is easy for them to frighten people. There are people who are really afraid, but the buying of votes is not part of the democratic process. This is the problem. If the scheme works at these elections, then imagine what will happen at the parliamentary elections due next year, at other elections. It is not about me or one or another party,’’ Maia Sandu said.  

The Moldovan president recognized that some state’s institutions, which should have hindered this scheme of massive purchasing of votes ‘’failed.’’  

„Some of them work and our demand for them is to work better and more efficiently on the next days, till the elections. But after the elections, all those who are guilty of this situation consciously or through ignorance, must be sanctioned. But till then, for us to defend our freedom and democracy, we must elect, the Moldovans must decide, but not all kinds of oligarchs who have a lot of money. We must go to vote. This is the only way for us to save our democracy,’’ Maia Sandu also said.