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Standing for closer links with Russia, Igor Dodon is elected new Moldovan president
Socialist candidate proposes federal model for Moldova as means to solve Transnistrian conflict
Dodon has been elected after a campaign in which he placed the improvement of relations with Russia as one of his main goals. The new president —who will take over in March 2017— seeks to sign a "friendship agreement of strategic partnership with the Russian Federation" to ensure that Moldovan citizens and products are not subject to restrictions in the country, according to his election manifesto.
New president seeks to sign a "friendship agreement of strategic partnership with the Russian Federation"
Moldovan migrants' remittances are of key importance for the country's impoverished economy. In 2015, remittances accounted for 23.4% of Moldova's GDP, according to World Bank data. Russia hosts the largest number of Moldovan migrants, by some estimates, while Russia is placed first as Moldova's main import trading partner —and fourth in export.Since the signing of the EU-Moldova Partnership Agreement in June 2014 —a previous step to the integration of the former Soviet republic into the European bloc— Russia has imposed sanctions and trade restrictions on Moldova. Dodon argues this is one of the reasons why Moldova should not seek to get closer to the EU.
New election in sight?
Dodon has also promised to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the population, including an increase in pensions and more jobs.
But to implement a set of policies, Dodon will need to act jointly with a like-minded government, which right now he does not have in place: the Moldovan executive is currently made up of an alliance of three parties that supported Maia Sandu.
Dodon today asked the government to call an early election in 2017.
Dodon's manifesto includes a proposal to ban Romanian unionism by law
Over the campaign, Dodon also verbalized a very hard stance regarding the so-called "unionist" camp, that is Moldovans who demand the unification of their country with Romania, citing linguistic —both countries speak the same language— and historical reasons —Moldova had in the past been part of Romania. Dodon's manifesto included a proposal to ban unionism by law and to prosecute its promoters.Furthermore, the new president has voiced doubts that Maia Sandu was a suitable person for the presidency given the fact that she holds the Romanian citizenship —as do at least 10% of Moldovans.
According to Dodon, those measures are needed in order to maintain the "Moldovan identity," which the newly elected president sees in danger. Linked to this, Dodon has also placed the defense of the "Orthodox character" of the country as one of his top commitments, which also means —may maybe striking to Western observers— the promotion of traditional family and values. In this line, the Party of Socialists introduced earlier this year a bill that sought a ban to what they call "homosexual propaganda" in the media.
"Common approach on Transnistria"
In his Moscow relations, Dodon also says he seeks to find "a common approach to solve the conflict of Transnistria," the mainly Russian-speaking self-styled republic that occupies the eastern fringe of Moldova and that declared independence 25 years ago. During this time, Transnistria has received economic, political and military support from the Kremlin. Dodon believes that is precisely why the settlement must be sought in agreement with Russia.
The solution advocated by the Socialists is, on the one hand, ensuring the "neutrality" of Moldova, and on the other, federalizing the country.
Russia has kept supporting Transnistria as a way to have a permanent bargaining chip to influence Moldova and curb the country's attempts to get closer to the EU —and eventually NATO. But if this approach is annulled, Dodon believes, the conditions for a stable settlement with the breakaway republic can be created.
As regards federalizing Moldova, the Socialists say the country should be made up of three constituent states: Moldova proper, Transnistria and Gagauzia —an autonomous region populated by a Turkic-speaking people that too maintains a pro-Russian orientation.