Moldova - Domestic policy



Voronin and the Communist party he heads were elected on a policy of continued privatization and liberalization of the economy in line with demands by the international financial community; they also pledged to bring about a peaceful resolution to the secessionist movement in the Dniestr. In his first months in office, Moldova was admitted into the World Trade Organization (WTO), a step toward integration into the global economy, although the economic condition of the average citizen barely improved. Voronin continued privatization of state-owned companies and worked diligently to appease international lenders in the hopes of bringing badly needed international capital into the country.

In January 2002, Voronin and the Communist-dominated Parliament passed laws rescinding grants of autonomy made by previous governments to regional authorities, including the largely successful decentralization pact passed between Moldova and Gagauz in 1994. Voronin described the leaders of the autonomous region as being "mafia and bandits who shamelessly pick the government's pockets." Moldovan interior ministry officials then attempted to fire senior members of the Gagauz police, causing the governor of the region to lead an armed assault on the federal security offices in Gagauz. These strong-arm tactics pleased many hard-line Communists, but aroused considerable dissent among a large cross-section of the population.

Voronin fueled this dissent in the country by temporarily reintroducing Russian as a compulsory subject in schools. After widespread popular dissatisfaction with this decision, the move was rescinded. He continued to push for Russian to be made one of the official languages though. Further dissent began early 2002 when massive street protests in the capital became commonplace as the economy deteriorated (average monthly wages were stagnated at about US $60) and the opposition grew restless at Voronin's continued attempts at Russification of society and increased political, economic, and military ties to Russia. In March 2002, one of the leaders of the opposition rallies, Vlad Cubreacov, disappeared from his home. The Voronin government established an official government inquiry, as many suspected his disappearance was politically motivated. Voronin has repeatedly denounced the protests as Romanian-inspired attempts to split the country or even to bring about Romanian rule over its former lands. In fact, during a February 2003 concert, Moldovan Television cut the live broadcast short after the crowd began singing pro-Romanian songs. Voronin reportedly fired the Culture Minister over the incident because of his "poor management" of the concert.

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