The message conveyed by ZdG in the meeting with Maia Sandu was that the team will not seek friendships or the benefits of the new government. The only demand is to be able to work freely, without involvement or obstacles from state institutions. To ZDG, free access to information is even more important than financial gains.

Before announcing the imminent demission of the Director of the Public Property Agency, Vladimir Baldovici, on the grounds that he posted on the APP website a privatization announcement for Ukraine’s “Moldova” sanatorium at a low price, the head of the Cabinet of Ministers met with representatives of the media and media NGOs. The discussion also included issues related to abuses and corruption. In fact, the issue of Ukrainian sanatoriums, sold by little to nothing to dubious organizations, was investigated by ZdG, but the authorities ignored it. In a meeting with Maia Sandu, the journalists reported their daily problems when trying to bring truthful, objective and equidistant information to people. The situation has not changed amid governments and parliaments that came to power, concluded those over 30 journalists who were present at the meeting.

In the audiovisual field, the CCA has allocated tendentious licenses, sometimes based “on party interests», though, no one has ever admitted this officially. The public broadcaster, TVM, supported by public money, has always been politically affiliated, arbitrarily reflecting events, ignoring investigations on corruption, limitation of human rights or crimes committed by the state. The Competition Council always took political decisions and refused to recognize that media institutions operate under unfair competition practices. The Moldova Post Office has always drawn up burdensome distribution contracts for the independent press, and at the indications from above, uncomfortable newspapers were not distributed, including to subscribers who paid for their newspapers a year in advance, perhaps refusing a medicine or a loaf of bread. 

Long-lasting correspondence with state institutions when we requested data or opinions has diminished the quality of journalistic work, causing readers to lose confidence in newspapers which offer delayed data and superficial analysis. We also requested the exemption of fees that editorial rooms pay to state institutions when requesting information of public interest. The fair and operative distribution of periodicals is important, so that subscribers, many of whom are from the villages, can be informed on time about everything that happens in Moldova. These are just some of the topics debated on Tuesday at the meeting with Maia Sandu. 

The attendees recalled other meetings with other prime ministers, in front of whom the press also spoke about problems, presented their requests. And what followed? Almost nothing important, because each time these prime ministers formed their teams of docile journalists, leaving aside the concerns of independent media. Maia Sandu promised to be different. At the latest, within 100 days, we will see if she is successful. The countdown has started.