Some think that casting out Plahotniuc solves the problem of the PDM. They’re wrong. The PDM was never just Plahotniuc. This also happened 10 years ago, Iurie Rosca tried to save the image of the Popular Christian Democratic Party (PPCD) by resigning from the party’s leadership. In 2009, all the old PPCD dynasty resigned. So? Where’s PPCD now? 

Petru Grozavu 

Where is Plahotniuc? There is no answer to this question so far. It’s been three weeks since Vladimir Plahotniuc left the Republic of Moldova in secret and vanished. His disappearance seems similar, or almost the same as that of Victor Yanukovych from Ukraine in 2014. The only difference is that information on the persons and means that aided Victor Yanukovych to escape and be saved were known in Kyiv the next day – rumor had it that the Russian special services got involved. 

In the case of Plahotniuc, we have no answer even after three weeks. Where is he? Some say he took refuge in the U.S., others speculate he is hiding in Switzerland, and there are also some who claim that they met him in London. The former party elite generally refuses to discuss this issue. Here is the last, slightly nervous reaction of the interim president of PDM, Pavel Filip: “I do not want to comment on this disappearance … In my opinion, a bad thing happened, first of all for the party … He must have had additional information that he had to leave if he made such a decision,” Filip said. 

The only person who hasn’t made any relevant statements on Plahotniuc is the President, Igor Dodon. Having at his disposal all the benefits of the 21st century, as well as the Supreme Security Council, the military – with its intelligence and counterintelligence services – and the Information and Security Service (intended to hear and see everything), he cannot claim he knows nothing. Yet Dodon keeps silent. Did he get any indications “from somewhere”? Was he asked to keep silent? Or does he still have some commitments to Plahotniuc which contribute to his silence? 

Even more suspicious is that Russia – with “eyes and ears” everywhere in the world – is mute too. After Plahotniuc’s escape from Moldova, Russia started some new criminal cases for drug smuggling and says it is preparing to “issue an international search warrant.” 

Could the Ministry of Internal Affairs, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Nastase, learn more in the meantime? It could, but even here in the public space, there is not any other information. The only news about Plahotniuc that we could find out last week, were the declarations made to Pro TV by U.S. Ambassador Dereck J. Hogan. Asked whether Vlad Plahotniuc was in the U.S., the head of the American diplomatic corps – the last of the foreign officials to meet Plahotniuc before he left Moldova – replied that he doesn’t know where Plahotniuc is. However, Hogan said that Plahotniuc was not given any protection guarantees from the U.S., and in the case of a criminal investigation on his name, he could be extradited. 

“If the US Government receives a request of extradition, it will consider it … If the analysis of the case leads to the conclusion that this person has to be extradited, this can happen,” Dereck J. Hogan said. Or it may not.

Who is hiding Palhotniuc, it’s not like he could get on a cosmic ship and leave to another planet. The fact that he accepted a peaceful transition of power, without repeating the terror and bloodshed of 7 April 2009, is welcomed. But Plahotniuc and PDM are involved in serious crimes. What about them? Who will answer for them? ​And it’s not just about Plahotniuc, but about all those who have taken advantage of public property. After losing power in Ukraine Victor Yanukovych was handed over to justice,  prosecuted and sued by courts. But what about our country? On Monday, the Office of the Prosecutor General ordered the seizure of the assets of Plahotniuc and Shor, who also escaped from Moldova. A sound act, but very much delayed. In the meantime, Plahotniuc, Shor and others in their entourage managed to sell and resell several of the illegally acquired properties. 

A couple of days ago Dodon announced that half a million dollars was taken out of Moldova in the last week. Where was President Dodon then? Where was the Supreme Security Council? 

During the last Saturday meeting of the National Political Council, PDM’s leadership  announced its resignation. Immediately after that, on Tuesday, Pavel Filip – interim president until the party’s extraordinary party congress on July 27 – made it clear that PDM is casting out Plahotniuc. 

“After giving up on his PDM leader’s mandate, Vladimir Plahotniuc has no longer any influence on the party,” Filip said. 

Two: “During the governing years there was a tough vertical of power within the party, ​unnatural for a party with a democratic orientation​ …”. Three: “The party had an aggressive manner of acting. I do not think this has brought us political value”. And four: Plahotniuc did the right thing when he left the office. I believe he will give up his mandate.” 

It’s very much like the Last Supper, the night when Jesus Christ was betrayed and later crucified. What did the Savior tell his disciples (the apostles) when he came to speak of betrayal? That “before the rooster crows, some of you will disown me.” And so it was, according to the Scripture. 

A final question: How credible can Pavel Filip’s statement be? Does this mean that PDM, not just Filip, but other party m Candu, Sârbu, Cojocaru, Botnari, Ţuţu and Babuc … are ready to cast out Plahotniuc? Do they no longer need Plahotniuc or is it that Plahotniuc no longer needs them? PDM seeks solutions in a rather confusing attempt to wash away the sins of their governance. They aim to restore the party’s image without which they are no longer what they used to be. 

Some may think that renouncing Plahotniuc solves the problem. This is wrong. PDM was never just Plahotniuc. Rewatch the video archives to see how many crawled to get closer to “the most powerful leader.” Some 10 years ago, Iurie Rosca, after voting for President Voronin in 2005, attempted to rescue the image of the PPCD by renouncing its leadership. In 2009, the entire old dynasty of PPCD resigned. So? Where’s the PCDP now?