Moldova
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frogwoman
Let them eat newts
Here is the protesters' declaration:
from here: http://unimedia.info/?mod=page&id=7
from here: http://unimedia.info/?mod=page&id=7
The First Official Declaration by Protesters from the Moldavian Capital (English Translation) said:
dennisr
the acceptable face
CWI Report: Thousands storm Parliament buildings as economic crisis worsens
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2009/04/0901.html
Some key bits:
"The protests started on Monday morning, when two NGOs, ‘Think Moldova’ and ‘Hyde Park’ organized a “flashmob” to protest the results of the election. Organised by SMS, up to 5,000 students and school students turned up, chanting “Better dead than red!” and “Long live a greater Rumania!” The protesters waved Moldovan and Rumanian flags, but went home peacefully, after being told to gather again at ten the following morning.
On Tuesday morning, at least ten thousand turned up. This time representatives of the main opposition parties also attended and spoke to the crowds. The three parties, a mixture of pro-Western neo-liberal parties and pro-Romanian nationalists, claimed that they had been “robbed” of victory in the elections. The protest however escalated out of control when groups of youth broke away to storm the parliament and presidential buildings. Smashing glass, they raced through the buildings throwing furniture, files and computers out of windows before setting them afire. At least one of the youth died during the protests and it is claimed others died too.
In response, President Voronin and his henchmen claimed that a coup d’etat was being attempted and that the Romanian government was behind the attempt. Braced by messages of support from Russian president Medvedev, Voronin announced the protests would be put down, closed the borders with Romania and recalled Moldova’s ambassador from Bucharest. To prevent further protests, on Wednesday police surrounded the colleges and universities."
...
"The situation is complex, however, because Moldova is at the interface of East-West relations, with complications caused by the ethnic make-up of the country.
The demand “to unify the Rumanian and Moldovan state”, which were presented at least by a layer of the youth on the recent protests, demonstrate the complexity. Until 1940, the non-Transdniestrian part of Moldova (Bessaravia) was part of Romania. Transdniestra was ‘Soviet Moldova’, then part of the Ukraine. The two parts were ‘united’ as part of the Hitler-Stalin pact in 1940 and became the new ‘Soviet Moldova’ after the war. The Moldovan language is a variation of Romanian. The proposal to create a “Greater Rumania” is a demand of the ultra-nationalists and Rumanian fascists and in ordinary circumstances would not get a great echo. But circumstances today are not ordinary.
Even Romania has a higher standard of living than Moldova. Not only that, it is part of the EU. A layer of the population in countries such as Moldova, given the devastation of their already poverty stricken economy by the current crisis, look to the EU as an ‘economic lifeline’, although not a very strong one. A layer of the population in Moldova, particularly some students, see ‘unification’ with Romania as a short-cut to the European Union.
Sections of the population undoubtedly see the EU and a Western ‘version’ of the market economy as offering some sort of way forward. These illusions in some type of ‘cleaner’ capitalism, over time, will be dispelled by the prolonged world economic crisis and crisis in Moldova and by big class struggles both domestically and internationally.And it is not clear what affect the return of migrant workers from Russia and the EU, as a result of the economic downturn in these regions, particularly of the construction industry, will have on the mood in Moldova."
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2009/04/0901.html
Some key bits:
"The protests started on Monday morning, when two NGOs, ‘Think Moldova’ and ‘Hyde Park’ organized a “flashmob” to protest the results of the election. Organised by SMS, up to 5,000 students and school students turned up, chanting “Better dead than red!” and “Long live a greater Rumania!” The protesters waved Moldovan and Rumanian flags, but went home peacefully, after being told to gather again at ten the following morning.
On Tuesday morning, at least ten thousand turned up. This time representatives of the main opposition parties also attended and spoke to the crowds. The three parties, a mixture of pro-Western neo-liberal parties and pro-Romanian nationalists, claimed that they had been “robbed” of victory in the elections. The protest however escalated out of control when groups of youth broke away to storm the parliament and presidential buildings. Smashing glass, they raced through the buildings throwing furniture, files and computers out of windows before setting them afire. At least one of the youth died during the protests and it is claimed others died too.
In response, President Voronin and his henchmen claimed that a coup d’etat was being attempted and that the Romanian government was behind the attempt. Braced by messages of support from Russian president Medvedev, Voronin announced the protests would be put down, closed the borders with Romania and recalled Moldova’s ambassador from Bucharest. To prevent further protests, on Wednesday police surrounded the colleges and universities."
...
"The situation is complex, however, because Moldova is at the interface of East-West relations, with complications caused by the ethnic make-up of the country.
The demand “to unify the Rumanian and Moldovan state”, which were presented at least by a layer of the youth on the recent protests, demonstrate the complexity. Until 1940, the non-Transdniestrian part of Moldova (Bessaravia) was part of Romania. Transdniestra was ‘Soviet Moldova’, then part of the Ukraine. The two parts were ‘united’ as part of the Hitler-Stalin pact in 1940 and became the new ‘Soviet Moldova’ after the war. The Moldovan language is a variation of Romanian. The proposal to create a “Greater Rumania” is a demand of the ultra-nationalists and Rumanian fascists and in ordinary circumstances would not get a great echo. But circumstances today are not ordinary.
Even Romania has a higher standard of living than Moldova. Not only that, it is part of the EU. A layer of the population in countries such as Moldova, given the devastation of their already poverty stricken economy by the current crisis, look to the EU as an ‘economic lifeline’, although not a very strong one. A layer of the population in Moldova, particularly some students, see ‘unification’ with Romania as a short-cut to the European Union.
Sections of the population undoubtedly see the EU and a Western ‘version’ of the market economy as offering some sort of way forward. These illusions in some type of ‘cleaner’ capitalism, over time, will be dispelled by the prolonged world economic crisis and crisis in Moldova and by big class struggles both domestically and internationally.And it is not clear what affect the return of migrant workers from Russia and the EU, as a result of the economic downturn in these regions, particularly of the construction industry, will have on the mood in Moldova."
The Kyiv Post is usually a pretty good paper. It follows the US style - so that there is an attempt to be balanced in news reporting, but Op-Eds are excluded from that rule, and guest Op-Eds doubly so. The comments to the online edition are to be immediately ignored, however - it's a bizarre mix of bemused American pensioners, bad tempered Russian students and other people whose opinions aren't as informed and valuable as mine. 
frogwoman
Let them eat newts
sihhi
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered
There's a "not the exact opposite but sort of like the reverse of Ukraine" situation in Moldova: unlike Ukraine the protests are against the pro-western government and are pro-Russian (and pro-Pridnestrovia/Transnistria)
First this Moldova: protesters storm Parliament
and now Moldova: Thousands rally to demand early elections
at least 40,000 on the streets apparently
First this Moldova: protesters storm Parliament
and now Moldova: Thousands rally to demand early elections
at least 40,000 on the streets apparently
sihhi
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered
Of course they are, and the corruption of Yanukovich and the Party of Regions also propelled participation in the pro-EU axis Maidan protest camp.
sihhi
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered
Crisis-hit Moldova’s youth look abroad for their future
“People here have lost half their salary in the last two years. We’re now back to the bad old times of the average monthly salary being about €160,” said Ghenadie Cretu, migration and development programme co-ordinator for the IOM in Moldova.
“This scale of emigration brings the depletion of intellectual capital in the country and decreased pressure for change. People go abroad instead of pressing for their rights or demanding better services. When so many citizens are not participating in political life, you get a government that is not really accountable.”
The EU and the United States have backed Moldova’s new government – knowing that elections now would probably bring pro-Russian parties to power – but Plingau believes the protesters will triumph, despite lacking the energy of youth.
“People here have lost half their salary in the last two years. We’re now back to the bad old times of the average monthly salary being about €160,” said Ghenadie Cretu, migration and development programme co-ordinator for the IOM in Moldova.
“This scale of emigration brings the depletion of intellectual capital in the country and decreased pressure for change. People go abroad instead of pressing for their rights or demanding better services. When so many citizens are not participating in political life, you get a government that is not really accountable.”
The EU and the United States have backed Moldova’s new government – knowing that elections now would probably bring pro-Russian parties to power – but Plingau believes the protesters will triumph, despite lacking the energy of youth.
I have a few relatives of former work colleagues who work in the Moldovan NHS on my fb and there are some shocking stories.
JimW
支那暗杀团
Interesting article on identity from a Moldovan journalist who left the country young to follow her father to Portugal: (National) identity crisis A Moldovan journalist grapples with her home country’s post-independence transformation — Meduza
I was struck by the bit about USAID-backed land privatisation in the early post-Soviet era, seemed like a classic of wrecking the collectives to no good end holdings "too small to be profitable but to big for a private family to work alone."
I was struck by the bit about USAID-backed land privatisation in the early post-Soviet era, seemed like a classic of wrecking the collectives to no good end holdings "too small to be profitable but to big for a private family to work alone."
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JimW
支那暗杀团
Governing party wins elections, touted as a snub to Russian ambitions: Moldova’s pro-EU party wins clear parliamentary majority, defeating pro-Russian groups They'll have a clear majority, which is handy as none of the other parties getting seats are similarly pro-EU.
HeAthen
Nadgers.
Yep, good news. I work with a lot of Moldovans and it's been a worrying time for them.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
One of the weird things about this election ,aside from some opposition parties being banned including one two days before the election, allegations of Russian interference, EU interference, complaints about not enough polling stations where lots of Moldavians live in some countries and a surfeit where few live, is that it has been very difficult to find any discussion in the western press that focusses on any policies of the parties allowed or not allowed to contest the elections apart from being pro or ant EU.
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steeplejack
seeing off the new ball
Journalism like this simply isn't written anymore, other than in specialist journals and portals, or longform writing in places like the LRB. Not easily summarised in 400 words, not enough clicks likes and engagement for a country few have heard of beyond their terrible national football team, and some burgundy-elephant-cord-attired wine connoisseurs. It's not a big tourist destination and my guess is 90% of Britons couldn't find the place on a map.
Moldova Matters (founded and edited by an American) is quite interesting and perceptive, even if I don't always agree with what's been written. Paula Erizanu can be interesting although viscerally anti-communist.
It's been a fascinating election and it is a fiendishly complex country with a complex history. Complexity and nuance doesn't play well in this era of vibes and feels.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Thanks for the recommendations. I think you are right about what isn't written anymore and it's a bigger problem than just Moldova, unfortunately. Whilst there have always been too few publications for the neither Washington nor Moscow audience it's now a question of picking through bones to find any scraps that help with reaching any semblance of analysis. The Guardian's headlinefor, for example, was that it's a struggle between 'darkness and light'. Exactly the same Manichaean conflict that passed for analysis of the earlier days of the Ukraine /Russia conflict and underpins the decline of any discussion about global politics into whose side are you on.
steeplejack
seeing off the new ball
In this case, not much to like about Sandu or her late-to-the-party privatising neoliberals, but it's a case of that or back to authoritarian kleptocracy minted by the likes of Dodon and Plahotniuc, acceleration of demographic collapse (most Moldovans can claim a Romanian passport and therefore EU citizenship).
Plahotniuc was a key figure alongside Ilhan Şor in one of the biggest bank fraud cases in history. Both these disgraced oligarchs together with the Russians have thrown an awful lot of money at the "opposition" and one of the parties was banned on the basis of receiving funding from Russia / banned oligarch sources and "assisting Russian interference in the election".
Plahotniuc was a key figure alongside Ilhan Şor in one of the biggest bank fraud cases in history. Both these disgraced oligarchs together with the Russians have thrown an awful lot of money at the "opposition" and one of the parties was banned on the basis of receiving funding from Russia / banned oligarch sources and "assisting Russian interference in the election".
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