Democracy aspires to Swiss model
Democracy
Whereas the situation in Pridnestrovie is improving, on the other side of the Dniester river, Moldovan democracy is circling the drain. Both the U.S. State Department and U.S.-based Freedom House in their annual reports on human rights abuses are watching the situation with grave concern. According to the latest report, domestic and international observers highlighted numerous deficiencies. Going on record, some described the most recent elections as "the worst since 1991." Owing to the alleged misuse of state resources, the observed imbalances in the state media's coverage, and other signs of deterioration in Moldova's electoral processes, the country's rating in this category worsened. And as if that wasn't enough, Moldova's independent trade unions were under attack too: State officials interfered in their activities, using threats, fiscal controls, and other methods to sabotage their work.
Pridnestrovie is no Switzerland. But it is a young democracy where the opposition is in control of Parliament and where the government respects referendum-results even when its own proposals are voted down. The country is copying its older, larger role-model: And today, it is an example to the world of how a formerly oppressed people — through democracy — can create a free and successful nation.
Voters go to the polls in Pridnestrovie, an independent country since 1990
For countries emerging into freedom, democracy comes in fits and starts and Pridnestrovie is no exception. After gaining its freedom when the Soviet regime fell, Pridnestrovie had no previous experience in democracy. But after fifteen years of free and direct elections the country has gotten the formula right. With the humble dream of maybe one day becoming as stable and democratic as Switzerland, it has a strong preference for citizen referendums and always respecting the rule of law, even when it goes against the government's wishes.
Democratic reforms are everywhere today in Pridnestrovie, thanks to liberalizing initiatives by the reform-minded majority in the country's parliament. A law on local administration, stipulating that the chairmen of raion and city councils have to be elected by the councils by secret vote, was adopted on 18 May 2005 at first reading.
Local and national government is democratic, on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. Voters elect their officials for a term of five years. All citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote, with no discrimination based on sex, race, ethnic background, language, religion or other discrimination of any kind.
Fourteen elections in fifteen years
In its first fifteen years of existence, Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica held a total of fourteen elections. Three for president. Four for local and municipal authorities. Three for members of parliament. And four referendums.
Following the direct democracy style of Switzerland, whenever there's an important change to decide on, the people get to decide ... not the government. so far, Pridnestrovie has four successfully held referendums to it credit:
- First referendum put the matter of autonomy to a vote. The people voted in favor, resulting in independence from the MSSR.
- Second, after the break-up of the USSR a referendum was held to confirm the status of Pridnestrovie: Should it join with Moldova, with the Commonwealth of Independent States, or consolidate a role as an independent country. The vote went in favor of the latter.
- Third, a referendum was held to determine the country's official position vis-a-vis the presence of CIS peacekeepers on its territory. Remembering these peacekeepers role in negotiating a ceasefire after Moldova's bloody 1992-invasion, Pridnestrovie's voters invited them to stay.
- Fourth, in the country's most recent referendum, a government proposition on land ownership reform was put to a vote. This time, the proposition did not find enough support among the population and the government's plan was not approved. The government of Pridnestrovie recognized the result and its proposal was scrapped.
On the other side of the river, bad news for democracy
Undemocratic: Observers called Communist-party boss Voronin's election in Moldova "the worst since 1991"
Moldova's latest presidential election on 8 March 2005 came under the strongest criticism ever and could hardly be called democratic by any stretch of the word. The observer mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe documented abuses on election day and pointedly noted that the campaign had been tainted by misuse of state resources for the Communist Party's benefit and overwhelmingly pro-government coverage of the Communists on both state- and state-controlled television. Kimmo Kiljunen, the Finnish chief of the observer mission, was quoted as saying that there were "many efforts to prevent the election from unfolding in a fully free and competitive manner."
When asked which side of the river the people of Pridnestrovie prefer to live on, the choice is easy: In an emerging democracy with freedom, rising living standards and the rule of law.
