Document #1090456
Freedom House (Author)
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Democratic Governance | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 6.00 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.50 | 5.50 | 5.50 | 5.75 |
Electoral Process | 3.75 | 3.75 | 4.00 | 4.25 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
Civil Society | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.50 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 |
Independent Media | 5.25 | 5.50 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.50 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 |
Local Democratic Governance | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.50 |
Judicial Framework and Independence | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.75 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.75 | 4.75 | 4.75 |
Corruption | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 6.00 |
Democracy Score | 4.96 | 5.00 | 5.07 | 5.14 | 4.96 | 4.89 | 4.82 | 4.86 | 4.86 | 4.89 |
NOTE: The ratings reflect the consensus of Freedom House, its academic advisers, and the author(s) of this report. If consensus cannot be reached, Freedom House is responsible for the final ratings. The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 7 the lowest. The Democracy Score is an average of ratings for the categories tracked in a given year. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s).
Political infighting, extensive corruption, and deep social divisions have put Moldova’s democratic development on hold. In 2015, the country experienced further setbacks to developing inclusive, transparent, and efficient governance.
From the start of the year, the country’s deep political crisis triggered instability that pushed reforms into the background. Conflict between two oligarchs formally in coalition, Vlad Filat of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) and Vlad Plahotniuc of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), disabled the functioning of the state and led to three changes of government during the year. Despite positive technical efforts in the modernization and European integration of state institutions, reforms have stalled and trust in institutions like the parliament and government has fallen below 7 percent.
The banking scandal that emerged at the end of 2014, in which over $1 billion—equivalent to one-eighth of Moldova’s GDP—disappeared from the state-owned Banca de Economii and two other private banks, dominated politics in 2015. The theft fed into a worsening economic situation and fueled protests starting in February against the failure of law enforcement institutions to investigate. Piggybacking on the initial civic protests by the “Dignity and Truth” platform, pro-Russian parties organized parallel demonstrations with a similar agenda beginning in September. The protests, political infighting, and finally a self-denunciation by Ilan Shor, a powerful oligarch suspected in the theft, eventually resulted in the arrest of former prime minister Vlad Filat. The circumstances of Filat’s arrest cast doubt on its efficacy in Moldova’s fight against corruption, however, since it came only after Shor’s statements although much additional evidence had accumulated by that time. Furthermore, despite being named from the start as a key figure in the theft, and despite implicating himself in his own statements, Shor remains at liberty after being elected mayor of Orhei in June 2015.
The formal and informal competition between these main actors to control the public narrative also caused an increase in pressure on the media. Oligarch-controlled business groups that distort information for their benefit control most of the country’s media, albeit with some notable exceptions. During the year, the parliament also made attempts to change legislation in ways that would increase the role of these groups in the media market under the guise of fighting propaganda. Yet civil society, with the support of international organizations, effectively put these changes on hold and successfully fought for regulations governing transparency of media ownership.
Reform of Moldova’s judicial sector has stagnated. Positive steps, like the parliament’s first reading of a new law on the prosecutor’s office, or the 2012 establishment of a National Commission of Integrity to deal with conflicts of interest and declaration of assets, have been offset by political interests’ blocking legislation and preventing the consolidation of strong institutions and practices. There is a clear unwillingness among the competing political elites to implement necessary reforms.
Surprisingly, local elections in June 2015 were well managed and largely considered free and fair, despite fierce competition. The results were not disputed, and even though the governing alliance secured a majority in many regions, left-wing opposition parties also gained significant control of certain areas. In local governance, implementation of a new law on local public finances was a positive development, changing the system of transferring funds from the central government to local entities and thus freeing local authorities from a significant mechanism of political influence. Aside from this law, however, other steps foreseen under the decentralization strategy that expired in 2015 have not been taken.
Implementation of Moldova’s Association Agreement with the European Union was limited to more technical issues, while relations with the EU worsened due to a lack of progress in internal reforms. Negotiations within the 5 + 2 framework to settle the Transnistrian conflict have been on hold since 2014, and with the exception of a decision to expand the application of the economic part of the Association Agreement to Transnistria, there were no significant changes in that area.
Score Changes:
As a result, Moldova’s Democracy Score declined from 4.86 to 4.89.
Outlook for 2016: The conditions that caused the political crisis throughout 2015 are unlikely to be resolved in 2016 without a wide national political compromise, which seems improbable. In a country where reforms have barely progressed when political stability was ensured, the crisis has rendered them nearly impossible. The economic prognosis is grim. The banking sector theft, endemic corruption, and a worsening regional context will impact quality of life even more in 2016 than in the previous year. Early elections, if they occur, would likely strengthen the position of pro-Russian parties, worsening relations with the European Union, but not necessarily damaging the reform process more than the current crisis. The country’s main challenges remain the same: implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU; de-politicization and de-oligarchization of state institutions, judiciary, and media; and implementation of reforms in areas like the justice system and decentralization.
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 6.00 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.50 | 5.50 | 5.50 | 5.75 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3.75 | 3.75 | 4.00 | 4.25 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3.75 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 3.50 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.25 | 5.50 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.50 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.50 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.50 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.75 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 4.75 | 4.75 | 4.75 |
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 5.75 | 6.00 |
Author: Leonid Litra
Leonid Litra is a senior research fellow at the Institute of World Policy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Previously he worked for more than 10 years in the Moldovan NGO sector. His research focuses on the relationship between the Eastern Partnership countries and the EU, democratization, and conflict settlement.
[1] Vitalie Călugăreanu, “PLDM-PL-PDM încep să scrie acordul de coaliție” [PLDM-PL-PDM start to draft the coalition agreement], Deutsche Welle, 14 July 2015, http://www.dw.com/ro/pldm-pl-pdm-încep-să-scrie-acordul-de-coaliție/a-18583217
[2] Kamil Calus, “A captured state? Moldova’s uncertain prospects for modernization,” Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), 22 April 2015, http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2015-04-22/appropriated-state-moldovas-uncertain-prospects-modernisation
[3] “Moldavan Government Decides to Adopt Budget Laws Without Discussion in Parliament,” Infotag, 9 May 2015, http://www.infotag.md/politics-en/202126/
[4] “Details about case of ex-Premier,” Info Prim Neo, 19 October 2015, http://www.ipn.md/en/politica/72415
[5] “Barometer of Public Opinion, Republic of Moldova, November 2015,” Institute for Public Policy, November 2015, http://www.ipp.md/public/files/Barometru/Brosura_BOP_11.2015_first_part_ENGLISH_V1.pdf; “Barometer of Public Opinion, Republic of Moldova, November 2009,” Institute for Public Policy, November 2009, http://www.ipp.md/public/files/Barometru/2009/BOP_noiembrie_2009_Englsih...
[6] “The former premier Iurie Leanca has launched his party; “The RM is led by the Communists,”” Jurnal.md, 23 March 2015, http://jurnal.md/en/politic/2015/3/23/the-former-premier-iurie-leanca-ha...
[7] “Barometer of Public Opinion, Republic of Moldova, November 2015,” Institute for Public Policy, November 2015, http://www.ipp.md/public/files/Barometru/Brosura_BOP_11.2015_first_part_ENGLISH_V1.pdf
[8] “Ex-Minister Maia Sandu Creating Political Party,” Infotag, 23 December 2015, http://www.infotag.md/politics-en/215317/
[9] “Barometer of Public Opinion, Republic of Moldova, November 2015,” Institute for Public Policy, November 2015, http://www.ipp.md/public/files/Barometru/Brosura_BOP_11.2015_first_part_ENGLISH_V1.pdf
[10] “IPRE: Moldova a aplicat numai 19% din măsurile aflate în Acordul de Asociere cu UE” [IPRE: Moldova applied only 19% of activities within the Association Agreement with the EU], Radio Europa Libera [Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty], 1 December 2015, http://www.europalibera.org/archive/news/20151201/445/445.html?id=27399732
[11] “Tiraspolul minimalizează rolul Chișinăului în extinderea Zonei de comerț liber cu UE asupra regiunii transnistrene” [Tiraspol is minimizing Chisinau’s role in the extension of the free trade area with the EU on the Transnistrian region], Radio Europa Libera [Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty], 26 December 2015, http://www.europalibera.org/archive/news/20151226/445/445.html?id=27450597
[12] Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), “OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Final Report, Local Elections 14 and 28 June 2015,” OSCE/ODIHR, 20 August 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/moldova/178226?download=true
[13] The results are as follows: for rayon and municipal councillors: PLDM (23.21 percent); PDM (23.12 percent); PSRM (14.25 percent); PCRM (12.37 percent); PN (12.10 percent); PL (8.24 percent); PPEM (six percent). For town and commune: PLDM (25.58 percent); PDM (26.57 percent); PSRM (12.23 percent); PCRM (11.27 percent); PN (7.42 percent); PL (7.15 percent); PPEM (4.84 percent). For mayoral elections: PLDM (31.81 percent); PDM (31.92 percent); PSRM (5.80 percent); PCRM (8.59 percent); PN (4.80 percent); PL (5.80 percent); PPEM (3.01 percent). Full results available at www.cec.md
[14] “Promo-LEX a prezentat rezultatele monitorizării alegerilor locale generale din 2015” [Promo-Lex presented results of the local general elections’ monitoring], Civic.md, 17 September 2015, http://www.civic.md/stiri-ong/29778-promo-lex-a-prezentat-rezultatele-monitorizarii-alegerilor-locale-generale-din-2015.html#sthash.7v56N2qf.dpuf
[15] OSCE, “OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Final Report, Local Elections 14 and 28 June 2015,” 20 August 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/moldova/178226?download=true
[16] “Raport Final, Monitorizarea Alegerilor Locale Generale din 14 (28) iunie 2015” [Final Report, Monitoring of Local General Elections from 14 (28) June 2015], Promo-Lex, 2015, http://www.promolex.md/upload/publications/ro/doc_1442821363.pdf
[17] “Deputații au adoptat proiectul de lege privind finanţarea partidelor politice” [MPs adopted the law on financing of political parties], Ministry of Justice, 19 March 2015, http://www.justice.gov.md/libview.php?l=ro&idc=4&id=2507
[18] OSCE, “OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Final Report, Local Elections 14 and 28 June 2015,” 20 August 2015, http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/moldova/178226?download=true
[19] Ibid.
[20] State registry of non-commercial organisations, accessed 9 November 2015, http://rson.justice.md/organizations
[21] “Barometer of Public Opinion, Republic of Moldova, November 2015,” Institute for Public Policy, November 2015, http://www.ipp.md/public/files/Barometru/Brosura_BOP_11.2015_first_part_ENGLISH_V1.pdf
[22] Gina S. Lentine, “Moldovans Settle In for a Standoff with Corruption,” Freedom House, 10 September 2015, https://freedomhouse.org/blog/moldovans-settle-standoff-corruption
[23] Author interview with Serghei Ostaf, former head of NPC, 11 November 2015.
[24] See NPC website at http://www.cnp.md/en/about-npc/overview
[25] Author interview with Serghei Ostaf, former head of NPC, 11 November 2015.
[26] “The 2014 CSO Sustainability Index for Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia,” United States Agency for International Development (USAID), https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1863/EuropeEurasia_F...
[27] “Buletin informativ No 6” [Informative bulletin No 6], Legal Resources Center for Moldova, June 2015, http://crjm.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Buletin-informativ-nr.-6.pdf
[28] “Reactia Ministerului Mediului la investigatia RISE: Ancheta la Moldsilva” [Reaction of Ministry of Environment on the RISE material: Investigation at Moldsilva], RISE Moldova, 28 October 2015, https://www.rise.md/reactia-ministerului-mediului-in-urma-anchetei-rise-...
[29] “Premierul Valeriu Streleţ s-a autosesizat după ce portalul Anticorupție a publicat o investigație privind averile și interesele viceminiștrilor” [Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet took action after Anticorruptie portal published an investigation on the wealth and interests of deputy ministers], Anticoruptie.md, 7 October 2015, http://anticoruptie.md/ro/stiri/premierul-valeriu-strelet-s-a-autosesizat-dupa-ce-portalul-anticoruptie-a-publicat-o-investigatie-privind-averile-si-interesele-viceministrilor
[30] “Memoriu privind libertatea presei în Republica Moldova 3 mai 2014 – 3 mai 2015” [Memoir on press freedom in Republic of Moldova 3 May 2014–3 May 2015], Jurnal de Chisinau, May 2015, http://www.jc.md/memoriu-privind-libertatea-presei-in-republica-moldova-3-mai-2014-3-mai-2015/
[31] Ibid.
[32] Anastasia Nani, “Oficial Vlad Plahotniuc, proprietar a patru televiziuni şi trei posturi de radio” [Official Vlad Plahotniuc, owner of four TV channels and three radio stations], Anticoruptie.md, 13 November 2015, http://anticoruptie.md/ro/stiri/oficial-vlad-plahotniuc-proprietar-a-pat...
[33] Julieta Saviţchi, “Cine sunt proprietarii posturilor de radio şi televiziune din Moldova” [Who are the owners of radio and television stations in Moldova], Anticoruptie.md, 18 November 2015, http://anticoruptie.md/ro/stiri/cine-sunt-proprietarii-posturilor-de-rad...
[34] Kroll, “Project Tenor – Scoping Phase: Final Report,” Candu.md, 2 April 2015, http://candu.md/files/doc/Kroll_Project%20Tenor_Candu_02.04.15.pdf
[35] “Stapanii televiziunilor” [The TV owners], Ziarul de Gardă, 19 November 2015, http://www.zdg.md/editia-print/investigatii/stapanii-televiziunilor
[36] Valeria Viţu, ”Situația presei din R.Moldova este foarte proastă” [The situation of media in Moldova is very bad], rfi.ro, 8 April 2015, http://www.rfi.ro/stiri-politica-56947-expert-media-situatia-presei-rmoldova-este-foarte-proasta
[37] Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media, “Legal Analysis of Proposed Amendments to the Audiovisual Code of the Republic of Moldova and the Law on Freedom of Expression of the Republic of Moldova,” OSCE, April 2015, http://www.osce.org/fom/152301?download=true
[38] Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media, “Legal Analysis of Proposed Amendments to the Audiovisual Code of the Republic of Moldova,” OSCE, July 2015, http://www.osce.org/fom/175681?download=true
[39] “Șase ani la Vamă: Afacerile și proprietățile familiei Balițchi” [Six years at Customs: the business and property of Balitchi family], Ziarul de Gardă, 29 October 2015, http://www.zdg.md/editia-print/investigatii/sase-ani-la-vama-afacerile-s...
[40] “Judecătoarea interzice ZdG să mai scrie…” [The judge prohibits ZdG to write…], Ziarul de Gardă, 22 October 2015, http://www.zdg.md/editia-print/editoriale/judecatoarea-interzice-zdg-sa-mai-scrie
[41] “Role of Russian Media in the Baltics and Moldova,” Broadcasting Board of Governors, February 2016, http://www.bbg.gov/wp-content/media/2016/02/BBG-Gallup-Russian-Media-pg2...
[42] IREX, “Europe and Eurasia Media Sustainability Index 2015,” International Research and Exchanges Board, 2015, https://www.irex.org/sites/default/files/u105/EE_MSI_2015_Moldova.pdf
[43] Activ, “Televiziunea ca instrument de propaganda intr-un razboi informational” [Television as an instrument of propaganda in an information war], Association of Independent Press (API), http://api.md/upload/files/Activ-2(56)-rom-web.pdf
[44] Mihai Popsoi, “The Rise and Fall of Renato Usatii: Politics in Moldova 2.0,” Moldovan Politics, 27 November 2014, http://moldovanpolitics.com/2014/11/27/the-rise-and-fall-of-renato-usatii/
[45] See a detailed explanation of the main provisions of the law in the Nations in Transit 2015 report at https://freedomhouse.org/report/nations-transit/2015/moldova
[46] Natalia Zaharescu, “Descentralizarea administrației de stat trebuie să continue în R. Moldova” [Decentralization of state administration should continue in Moldova], Radio Chişinău, 8 October 2015, http://www.radiochisinau.md/descentralizarea_administratiei_de_stat_trebuie_sa_continue_in_r_moldova-27193
[47] Interview with international organization representative, Chişinău, 17 October 2015.
[48] Interview with expert on local public administration, Chişinău, 16 October 2015.
[49] Interview with an official from Council of Europe, 17 October 2015.
[50] Audio recording of court proceedings is needed in order to ensure transparency of justice, fair trial, increasing the accuracy of registration information during trial and eliminating the perception of misconduct and improper communications in court.
[51] “Moldovan government approves law on Prosecution,” Government of Republic of Moldova, 5 October 2015, http://gov.md/en/content/moldovan-government-approves-law-prosecution
[52] Andriana Cheptine, “Vlad Gribincea: E Timpul Să Se Facă un Pas Decisiv În Reformarea Procuraturii” [Vlad Gribincea: It is time to make a decisive step in reforming the prosecutor office], Tribuna, 14 October 2015, http://tribuna.md/2015/10/14/interviu-vlad-gribincea-e-timpul-sa-se-faca-un-pas-decisiv-in-reformarea-procuraturii/
[53] “Judecatorii nu vor mai putea sa imparta cum vor dosarele. Presedintele CSM: "Garantii nu-s, pentru ca moldovenii sunt... inventivi”” [Judges will not be able to assign cases as they wish. The President of SCM: “There are no guaranties since the Moldovans are … inventive”], Protv.md, 11 March 2015, http://protv.md/stiri/actualitate/prblema-fentarii-sistemului-de-repartizare-aleatorie-a-dosarelor---899011.html
[54] “Buletin informativ Nr 5” [Informative bulletin No 5], Legal Resource Center for Moldova, March 2015, http://crjm.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/CRJM-Buletin-info.-nr.-5.pdf
[55] Ana Sîrbu, “DOCUMENT. Raportul KROLL, publicat oficial de președintele Parlamentului” [Document: Kroll Report, officially published by speaker of parliament], 4 May 2015, http://agora.md/stiri/8401/document--raportul-kroll--publicat-oficial-de...
[56] Ibid.
[57] “Vlad Filat a dat ordin ca Artur Gherman să fie dat afară de la CNPF pentru că era împotriva fraudelor de la BEM” [Vlad Filat order to sack Artur Gherman from NCFM because he was against the frauds from BEM], Realitatea, 19 October 2015, http://www.realitatea.md/---vlad-filat-a-dat-ordin-ca-artur-gherman-sa-fie-dat-afara-de-la-cnpf-pentru-ca-era-impotriva-faudelor-de-la-bem---_28501.html
[58] “Filat has been arrested – a new stage in the war of the Moldovan political elites,” Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), 21 October 2015, http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2015-10-21/filat-has-been-arrested-a-new-stage-war-moldovan-political-elites
[59] “Viorel Chetraru: CNA a pornit 44 de dosare penale pe marginea „furtului miliardului” [Viorel Chetraru: CNA initiated 44 criminal cases on the one billion theft], Radio Europa Libera [Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty], 2 December 2015, http://www.europalibera.org/archive/news/20151202/445/445.html?id=27402917
[60] “INTERVIU // Lilia Carasciuc: “Dacă nu va vâsli spre Uniunea Europeană, ţara noastră va lua o direcţie greşită” [Interview // Lilia Carasciuc: “If Moldova will not head towards the European Union, our country will take a wrong path”], Ziarul National, 15 October 2015, http://www.ziarulnational.md/interviu-lilia-carasciuc-daca-nu-va-vasli-spre-uniunea-europeana-tara-noastra-va-lua-o-directie-gresita/
[61] Ibid.
[62] “Buletin informativ Nr 6” [Informative bulletin No 6], Legal Resource Center for Moldova, June 2015, http://crjm.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Buletin-informativ-nr.-6.pdf
Nations in Transit 2016 - Kazakhstan (Periodical Report, English)