​IGOR DODON CALLS HIS EX-RIVAL NOT TO DRAG OUT ELECTION RESULT RECOGNITION

Moldova’s president-elect Igor Dodon has called his electoral rival Maia Sandu, the PAS party leader, and DA Platform leader Andrei Nastase, who supported her, not to take part in the ruling majority’s political games and not to drag out the inauguration of the country’s new President.

Dodon said at a news conference on Tuesday that his political opponents keep challenging the election results at all possible court instances, though they certainly realize that for a majority of citizens of Moldova everything is more than clear in the past campaign results.

“Let me ask you a question: In whose interests is what you are now doing? There is a majority of Moldova citizens who gave me their votes in the hope that changes for the better would at last begin in the republic. With your incessant claims and challenges to courts of all instances you are only delaying the recognition of the new President’s plenary powers by the Constitutional Court. In whose interests is this? I guess in the interests of the incumbent authorities who are ruling the country predatorily. I don't know if it is by accident or design, but the Right opposition helps the country rulers do their shady affairs”, said Dodon.

He referred to only several recent serious decisions taken by the incumbent government.

“Thus, the ruling majority has decided to open a NATO Bureau in Chisinau [and Prime Minister Pavel Filip and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg signed a corresponding Agreement to this effect in Brussels last Tuesday]. I have always been categorically against this. Also, the Government has decided to raise the retirement ages [by 5 years for women and by 3 years for men]. This is an anti-social action, which I intend to block. I’ve heard Premier Filip’s arguments in favor of increasing pensions in the country, but he is not saying anything about the obvious fact that most of citizens will simply not live until retirement. My opinion on the issue is: there must be no place to such changes in Moldova! Thirdly, it is quite possible to appoint a new Prosecutor General. I am categorically against the candidates who are now queuing for this post. It is necessary to announce a new contest and it must be held with maximum-possible transparency”, stated the president-elect.

Igor Dodon believes that his political opponents are dragging out the election result recognition either through ignorance or out of the feeling of blind revenge.

“I have talked to Constitutional Court Chairman. Formally, Mr. Alexandru Tanase is indeed right – the Court must say its word on election results within maximum 10 days from election documents receipt, but not before all claims and challenges have been resolved in general-jurisdiction courts. But the Right opposition is deliberately dragging out its appeals to courts”, stated Dodon.

He underlined that the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova stipulates most clearly when President must assume office.

“The Moldovan President’s powers must be recognized within maximum 45 days from election results announcement. In our particular case, the recognition must take place on December 27-28 at the latest. I ask my supporters to stay calm. The authorities are playing on our nerves making their political game. But we shall achieve the recognition of our victory by using legal means”, stated Igor Dodon, adding that he is receiving hundreds and thousands of addresses from his supporters who are ready to come out for protest actions, if only Dodon’s powers are not recognized.

The president-elect called on his supporters to abstain from any radical actions or street protesting, and offered a supposition that his political opponents are acting in this manner on the request of their Western supervisors.

“I admit that they requested my opponents to act so for the sake of opening a NATO Bureau in Chisinau and to take some other decisions. At any rate, we will be struggling against all this. I am not the kind of a president who will be enjoying rest in Condrita [presidential countryside residence] watching what the Parliament and Government are doing over there in Chisinau. There shall be no more of what we have had in Moldova last 4 years”, stated Igor Dodon, hinting indeed at outgoing President Timofti.

Some sources said to Infotag that the Constitutional Court may convene for election result consideration sitting later this week or next week, and that December 23 is being considered as the inauguration date.