Press
GHIMPU SAYS HE MAY WELL RUN FOR PRESIDENCY
Moldova’s Acting President, Parliament Chairman Mihai Ghimpu is not ruling out completely the possibility of his standing for president at the forthcoming elections.
Speaking in the Channel TV7 live “Open Studio” program last Friday night, Ghimpu said that he may take part in the elections if a referendum approves the order of electing president and if a direct election of the head of state by the people takes place.
“I stood for preserving the current Parliament and for further realization of the accords reached by the Alliance for European Integration constituent parties. In that case, the presidential post was to be given to Democratic Party Chairman Marian Lupu. But as that variant failed, we must amend the Constitution and de-block the current deadlock by holding a referendum”, said Mihai Ghimpu.
“Now we have a different situation. The AEI constituent parties will be offering presidential candidates of their own. If the people wish and the Liberal Party supports my candidature, I may stand for presidency, though the Liberal Party has many worthy candidates, and a final decision will be taken democratically by a consensus”, said the LP Chairman.
He voiced confidence the constitutional referendum will be a success, and victory at early parliamentary elections will be won by democratic forces.
As for the Communists’ chances, Mihai Ghimpu said “Their chances are already in history. What they had will never repeat. I am not going to play chess here, guessing what will be, who will be the king and who will be the queen. My firm opinion is: the Communists will never more be in power in Moldova. Our citizens have come to understand that one should not vote for the Communists, who, while in power, became fabulously rich, while the people of Moldova has become the poorest in Europe. Everybody knows that ex-president Vladimir Voronin used to live more luxuriously than a king or a queen”.
Answering a question about the expediency of having a referendum on making Russian a second official language in the republic, Mihai Ghimpu stated, “There is no need to. In 2001, the Communists promised to make Russian an official language. What prevented them from doing that? The problem is not in the language. The problem is, there exist certain forces that constantly speculate on the question. The Russian language functions normally in Moldova, and shall continue to function so. There’s no need stirring up people with various initiative of that sort for the sake of earning political dividends. Instead, it is necessary to create good living conditions for people”.
Mihai Ghimpu also said the democratic parties should negotiate a candidacy for next Mayor of Chisinau. At the same time, he voiced confidence that the incumbent Mayor, Dorin Chirtoaca, will necessarily win the 2011 mayoral elections in the capital city.
“I am saying so not because he is my nephew but because he works very well. And if Dorin agrees to participate once again, he shall win the elections”, presumes acting president Mihai Ghimpu.
