The state of emergency, from April 1 to May 30, has been established in Moldova. It happened after Parliament failed in its second attempt to elect a new Government and left the doors open to early elections. On March 31, the Socialist Party deputies and those from the parliamentary platform For Moldova voted for a state of emergency. The opposition criticized the decision labeling it as political because, during the state of emergency, the law does not allow the dissolution of Parliament. The Socialists rejected the accusations and claimed that the state of emergency has no political aspects and only offers additional levers to the resigned Government in the fight against the pandemic. 

Ecaterina Mardarovici, Women’s Club “50×50”

The state of emergency is a political decision. The proof is the manner and haste by which was voted by the toxic majority in Parliament. If it a sincere concern to reduce the pandemic, we would have had the opposition’s vote as well… The decision aims to postpone the early elections and maintain access to public money. The vaccine is bought for large sums of money, and the “tricksters” in such situations will get money… It is important for the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition, but also for the civil society to monitor the activity of public institutions and to keep an eye on how public money and public goods are spent. 

Alexei Busuioc, member of Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova

It is a hundred percent a decision against early elections and the COVID-19 is an excuse. Fearing that they would lose the elections, the Socialists faked the “concern for the citizens” and anti-pandemic protection. Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on Sunday. With all anti-epidemic protection measures in place, the elections went smoothly. The Socialists panic on no basis. We need urgent changes in governance, and that means we need early elections.

Ion Negrei, historian

The decision is against early elections. If the decision would be an anti-epidemic, the Government would present to the Parliament, on March 31, not only the request to establish the state of emergency but also an action plan, with a clear budget for expenses… The Government came up with a plan of action only a few days after and only formally, for which Prime Minister Ciocoi personally apologized. The action plan should not be about forbidding park walks, but about the quantities of vaccine to be bought: when buy, where to buy, on what money? Drugs, medical equipment, oxygenation equipment, alternative solutions… A week has passed, what has changed? Nothing, because that’s not their interest. The interest of the Dodon-Shor-Sîrbu group is to postpone the early elections as late as possible so that they would have time to prepare for them.

Alecu Reniță, “Parliament-1990” Association

The pandemic is wreaking havoc. Over 5,000 people dead. Without the sacrifice of the doctors, the losses would have doubled or tripled. The perpetrator of this genocide is Dodon, assisted by the Socialist and Shor groups in Parliament and Government. If Dodon did not initially head the pandemic commission, but let the doctors take care of the situation, the disease spread would not have reached its current state. Overall, all parliamentary parties have shown gross negligence towards the pandemic. The state of emergency voted by the Dodon-Shor clan has nothing in common with the pandemic and its consequences. Until December 24, 2020, it was clear that the Dodon-Shor-Plahotniuc group does not want early elections. Their hypocrisy and alleged readiness to go ahead with the early elections has the goal to deceive the naive in the opposition, to deepen the pandemic, economic and social crisis, to increase the revolt in society, and to compromise Maia Sandu. Unfortunately, with very few exceptions, we do not have statesmen in opposition, with vision and strategies to defeat the Dodon-Shor clan, massively assisted by the Russian secret services. It has been more than three months since voters drove Dodon away from the Presidency, but he continues to lead and give commands to the Government and the Parliament. Dodon must be isolated urgently and brought to justice. After his isolation, the gang of corrupt people in the Parliament and Government will fall apart and there will be created real possibilities for the pandemic to be reduced, through mass vaccination, and for early elections to be organized in the summer-autumn.