The press affiliated with the Socialists in Chisinau resumes narratives regarding an alleged plan by means of which civil society – shown in a bad light – would seek to seize power in the Republic of Moldova.
NEWS: “The Republic of Moldova is turning from a parliamentary state into one led by Non-Governmental Organizations.” This is how the deputy from the first Parliament and signatory to the Declaration of Independence, Andrei Bashtovoi, commented on the consultations carried out by President Maia Sandu with civil society representatives:
"The ruling NGOs are consulting with civil society NGOs, and we are gradually turning from a Parliamentary Republic into an NGO Republic (by the way, a new form of government could be patented), that's why we won't need a government either", Bashtovoi wrote on Facebook”. This is the text carried on March 2 by several news portals in the Republic of Moldova, such as subiectulzilei.md, telegraph.md, noi.md, primul.md, etc., all seen as affiliated with the Party of Socialists and Igor Dodon.
NARRATIVES: 1. Maia Sandu is usurping state power. 2. Maia Sandu is trying to take over state power with the help of civil society. 3. Civil society (funded from outside) is seizing power in the Republic of Moldova.
LOCAL CONTEXT/ETHOS: The Republic of Moldova is marked by a new political crisis, with the new President Maia Sandu trying to force the organization of early elections, and an alliance led by the Socialists wanting to impose a government, despite the fact that, initially, PSRM itself had stood for early elections. The President has announced that she will no longer hold consultations with the current parliament and will in turn talk to civil society.
Maia Sandu launched these consultations on March 1 and immediately became the target of a wave of criticism from her political opponents, led by Igor Dodon, the pro-socialist media and the experts quoted by it.
Beyond the attacks on Maya Sandu's political decisions, it was suggested that civil society would try to take control of the Republic of Moldova.Against this background, some media outlets covered a comment by Andrei Bashtovoi, a former deputy and businessman, previously charged with commercial crime.Such statements seem to be chased after in order to be used in promoting certain narratives, given that Bashtovoi is not a singular case. A post, also on Facebook, by a PR expert, Aurelia Peru, was also widely taken over by practically the same media. "Can civil society (NGOs) replace state institutions? Every day comes with a " surprise". Could anyone tell me how long the presidential campaign in the Republic of Moldova lasts?”, she wrote.The zeal with which such posts are quoted is reminiscent of another broad campaign targeting civil society, launched in the middle of the presidential election campaign by one of the PSRM ideologues, Bogdan Țîrdea. He published a book on an alleged Soros-funded civil society conspiracy, which was part of Igor Dodon's arsenal against Maia Sandu, but which did not help him win the election.
PURPOSE: To present civil society as being involved in attempts to seize power in the Republic of Moldova, in order to thus serve the interests of external powers.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: The first accusations against civil society in the Republic of Moldova were launched by the former president Vladimir Voronin, and after that they were periodically resumed by representatives of the government in Chisinau, usually by the left wing. However, no evidence has ever been presented that Non-Governmental Organizations in Chisinau are involved in political actions.President Maia Sandu launched consultations with civil society against the background of a political crisis and after announcing that she did not intend to talk to Parliament and nominate a candidate for prime minister. Thus, the allegations that her decisions were somehow influenced by civil society have no grounds. Although Igor Dodon is currently criticizing Maia Sandu's consultations with civil society, he himself created a Civil Society Council during his presidential term, which he consulted on certain occasions. Moreover, the Council played an important role in the decisions made by the former President of the Republic of Moldova, as it appears from a communiqué of the presidential administration, issued at the end of Igor Dodon's term.
GRAIN OF TRUTH: Maia Sandu has launched a series of consultations with civil society experts "to find out their opinions and recommendations in order to get the country out of the political crisis"
THE NARRATIVES BENEFIT: Igor Dodon, PSRM
Check sources:
