Following the presidential elections in Belarus from August 9, President Igor Dodon, along with President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Xi Jinping of China, have acknowledged the victory in the presidential elections of Alexander Lukashenko, labeled Europe’s last dictator. In the meantime, Belarusians went out to protest, and Poland called on the European Union (EU) to convene an emergency in connection with post-election violence in Belarus. 

“I send my sincere congratulations to my Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, on the occasion of the victory in the presidential elections, on my behalf and on behalf of the Moldovan people,” Dodon wrote on his Facebook page. 

ZdG asked the experts if Dodon has the right to declare on behalf of the people of Moldova. 

Alecu Reniță, Parliament Association-1990

Dodon has not learned anything about what it means to represent a state. He lacks dignity. The only thing that concerns him is the “kuliok” (bag of bribed money). The head of state can only speak on behalf of the people within strictly legal and protocol limits. You are obliged to show wisdom in relations with other countries but do not expose your people and the state in confusing situations, do not rush like an unwelcome clown in a different game. Don’t humiliate yourself when you see Putin. Don’t flatter yourself when your people are starving.

 His congratulations to the dictator of Belarus damages the image of Moldova and shows Dodon’s inclination to subjugation. I can firmly claim that the responsible citizens of Moldova condemn the abuses and violence at the command of Lukashenko and show solidarity with the people of Belarus, who want to live in freedom and democracy like the absolute majority of the European peoples.

Valentina Cușnir, Diaspora, Italy 

I consider Dodon’s congratulation to Lukashenko on behalf of the people a typical and naughty insult to the citizens! 

Dodon and civil servants of all levels have us, the citizens, as their property and forget that they are in the service of the people and not the other way around. In fact, the Criminal Code should have a chapter with express provisions of liability for abuse of office and power. I consider that direct criminal punishments should apply to high-ranking persons as well. What Dodon did is abuse. The Parliament must react to such violations!

Tudor Malai, Merchant

Dodon embarrassed himself. He showed his weakness. When doing something for the people, the head of the state has to think thoroughly over his decisions. It is his business whose hand he wants to kiss, but in the name of the people, he cannot do whatever comes to mind, especially if you are a president, an educated president. But his mouth always runs off with him. Either Putin is a friend, or Krasnoselsky is a president… Personally, even if Dodon is not my president, I feel uncomfortable with the Belarusian people, who went out to the streets to tell Lukashenko that they are tired of him. Dodon offended an entire nation with his congratulations. I am disgusted by what Dodon did as well. I think it is not just me.

Alexandru Arseni, University Professor, Doctor

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the will of the people is the power’s foundation in the state. This is expressed through free and fair elections, yet the polls in Belarus showed a violation of these provisions and the respective terms of the Belarusian Constitution. Moreover, according to Art. 78/2 of the Constitution of Moldova, the president represents the state and the supreme representative body of the people is the Parliament, according to Art. 60/1. Thus, the Parliament speaks on behalf of the people. The head of state represents the state, and the congratulation should have been addressed on behalf of the government and not of the people. It is not the same thing. The state represents the institution, and the people are subject to constitutional and international law. By this congratulation, on behalf of the Moldovan people, Dodon exposed his support for a dictator, which the people did not ask him to.