THE DEMISE of Moldova’s communist government has been hailed as “a relief” by a prominent representative in Ireland.
“People are excited about it,” said Tatiana Condrea, co-president of the Moldovan Association, who spoke to Metro Éireann in a personal capacity. “We can’t get rid of the communists so easily, it will happen in phases, but this is already a success.”
President Vladimir Voronin’s Communist Party, in power since 2001, tallied the most votes in last week’s election, yet lost its parliamentary majority. Four liberal opposition parties gained 53 seats in Moldova’s 101-seat parliament, reversing a slender victory for the communists in April’s disputed polls.
Analysts say the Communist Party’s influence – although diminished – is still significant, with opposition parties failing to gain enough seats to elect a successor to President Voronin, who has served out his maximum two terms.
Tatiana Condrea, who visits her birthland every year, says corruption and electoral fraud have been rife, a friend having been offered the equivalent of €100 to vote for the communists last week.
“He wouldn’t listen to them, but people on the street will jump at this,” she commented.
One of Europe’s poorest countries, Moldova has been embroiled in political turmoil since President Voronin took 50 per cent of the vote in April’s election, which protesters deemed fraudulent. He has accused pro-western elements of inspiring the backlash.
“After April there were a lot of horrible stories, mainly about students arrested, put in cells and abused,” said Condrea. “People do feel that they are not heard, that they don’t get a fair deal.”
Members of the Moldovan community in Ireland held several protests outside the GPO following April’s elections, she added.
Condrea said there has been “no big change” in the country’s infrastructure and standard of living since 2001, and little evidence of IMF and other monies being used properly by the outgoing government.
Around 5,000 Moldovans live in Ireland, most having emigrated due to economic and political pressures. An unknown number work here illegally.
