The Moldovan political deadlock continues and the chances of identifying a solution to avoid early elections are getting slimmer. Each parliamentary faction has deputies who believe it is still possible to appoint a functioning government without Shor’s deputies. But in reality, the only coalition is between the Socialist and the Shor Party.

For example, on March 2, at the meeting of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, the deputies of the Socialist Party and those from the Shor Party cooperated well, voting for a controversial candidate for the head of the Supreme Court of Justice. As a result, there is one more problem added to the existing integrity issues within the Judiciary. Earlier, the Socialists together with Ilan Shor’s deputies formed a majority to vote for other suspicious laws. Their coalition is understandable since there are deputies with criminal issues in both the Shor and Socialist factions in Parliament. Several of these deputies are under criminal investigation. Moreover, former Democratic Party leader Plahotniuc or Socialist Party leader Dodon might control the lawmakers’ criminal cases. The reason for the deputies’ fierce resistance to early elections is the fear of losing political control over corruption cases.

The agony in Parliament gathers momentum. Last week, Shor’s deputies flanked the deputy Sergiu Sîrbu and held a briefing at the Parliament, arguing that he was not admitted to the meeting of the Supreme Security Council. Sîrbu believes that he was left out due to the debt issue of Chișinău Airport and that restricting his access to this meeting would mean “undermining Parliament’s authority.”

Later, Sîrbu filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office about his restricted access to this meeting. The current parliament has reached such a low level that those who undermine the country’s security, complain about undermining their authority. They avoid responsibility and conduct briefings to divert public attention from the serious issues.

The major problem that affects citizens is the lack of a government that would manage the multitude of problems of the population: the current pandemic, poverty, agricultural problems, and the lack of money. Now that the Socialist parliamentary majority admitted dissolution of the government, will it be able to create a better government in the current conditions? 

Could the new Government, voted by the Socialists, together with Shor’s deputies and their satellite deputy Sergiu Sârbu, with a few other fugitive, kidnapped and dishonored deputies, represent the interests of the citizens? Will a government voted by obscure and corrupt deputies deal with the real problems of its citizens? Will the deputies of the current parliament, who will not agree with the actions of that Government, be able to form a majority to dissolve it? Definitely not. Therefore, why would Moldova need a Government with integrity issues, if it cannot get rid of a parliament riddled with corruption and obscure interests?

There have been so many corruption scandals in the last ten years that citizens have become deeply intolerant of this phenomenon. I have the impression that many are ready to endure poverty, but can no longer stand corruption. Any politician, who allies with corrupt politicians, even for a vote or for a beneficial political act, will not be able to clean their tainted image.

These days, the foreign press is debating on the integrity of the British Duchess Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s wife. The press discusses her wearing a pair of earrings given as a wedding gift by Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. Yes, kings, princes, chancellors and other great personalities attend the weddings of royal families. It’s just that their status doesn’t make them immune to acts of corruption or other reprehensible stains on their reputation. Some time ago, the USA declared that Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia was involved in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, in 2018.

Is it ethical for Meghan Markle to use this wedding present she received from a prince accused of murder? This is the turmoil of the British press. Meanwhile, in Chișinău, political marriages in parliament degraded to the level of small adulterous parties. Marital jewelry is increasingly devalued and lacking in shine. Who else wants to ally with them, at least for one act? Who wants to tarnish themselves more? Only those who no longer have any untainted spot left.