 | TOGETHER FOREVER? Transdniestria agreed to a 2003 plan for becoming part of a common state with Moldova. But Moldova surprisingly turned it down, for reasons that were never fully explained. [more] |  | | |  | THE OPPOSITION is a majority in parliament. Now pro-government parties are taking to the streets to try to win back voter support. [more] |
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Yevgeny Shevchuk: "Democracy means respecting the majority will of the people"
Disappointing his followers, who wanted him to enter the presidential race, opposition leader Yevgeny Shevchuk stayed on the sidelines for the 2006 election. Here, he gives us his views on the democratic situation, the economy and the next steps needed for solving the Moldovan problem.
Opposition leader Yevgeny Shevchuk, 38: "The winner will be decided by the people"TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times / Regnum) - On the eve of Pridnestrovie's presidential elections, the head of the PMR Parliament, Speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk, spoke to a Regnum correspondent about the current political situation in the unrecognized country, on the prospects for economic development after the presidential elections, and the Moldovan problem.
Yevgeny Shevchuk, 38, is the Speaker of PMR's Parliament and the leaders of Renewal (Obnovleniye), Pridnestrovie's largest opposition party. The party won an unexpected 23 of 43 possible seats in the 11 December 2005 parliamentary elections, putting parliament in control of the opposition for the first time since the 1990 declaration of independence.
Shevchuk was widely seen as the most credible candidate to challenge Igor Smirnov for the presidential seat. But this year, he did not enter the race. Instead, he decided to keep working from parliament, and among his future reform plans, he wants to create the post of prime minister. He has not ruled out a future presidential bid but decided that 2006 was not his year for that.
- How do you assess the situation prior to the election?
" - The situation is stable. The candidates have been promoting themselves, and observed the election laws. Therefore, I think that the elections will be held smoothly in a calm atmosphere. What is most important is the turnout, because we have a barrier to be overcome. The elections are only valid if at least 50%+1 of the voters cast their ballots. Democracy means respecting the majority will of the people. And, ultimately, the winner will be decided by the people."
- Will there be policy changes after the elections?
" - I am sure that the orientation of the foreign policy will change, because this is what the domestic situation within Pridnestrovie dictates. Here, virtually all the political parties are focused on the same goal: Closer ties to Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. What unites almost all of us is that we have decided to stay independent from the Republic of Moldova. As for further changes after the elections, I also think that the main task is to return to the economic situation of pre-March 3, 2006, before the economic blockade against us was started. This is one of the priorities to focus on. There will be changes in the executive branch. Our constitution specifies that after an election, the elected president forms his new cabinet. Those are the basic steps to take after the election."
- PMR is Russian-speaking, Slavic oriented, and its legislation is based on Russian laws, not Moldovan
" - That is correct. As head of the legislative branch, I estimate that in 80% our legislation is similar to that of Russia. The conceptual difference is in the constitution, the system of government, tax legislation. We are not at all oriented towards Moldova and we have never been. We have a completely different history. As for tax laws, we deal with first and foremost free-trade activities. Our economy is deliberately being destabilized by forces from abroad. Our task, now, is to stabilizing the economy. First, there is the border. Second, the opening of transport links. This will again enable the full functioning of the financial system of the country. And then it will be possible to directly address the issues of tax legislation. We are prepared to do this, but this does not depend on us but on factors outside of our borders."
- And the status talks with Moldova?
" - We need to separate political issues from economic issues in the negotiations on the status settlement with Moldova. Economic pressure should not be used as a political weapon. This will only antagonize the sides. There is now a need for the guarantor countries to sign a transit protocol, so that the economy will function and the standard of living can increase. This can happen parallel to the negotiations and consultations on further normalization issues. The signing of a transit protocol is even supported by Ukraine. I urge that this issue be cleared as soon as possible."
Yevgeny Shevchuk is a lawyer and a former bank manager. He has been described as a social democratic technocrat with a European outlook, and has been described by analysts as a man of profound democratic beliefs. A 2005 report by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe referred to Yevgeny Shevchuk in the context of democratic reform, noting that Transnistria (as the report referred to Pridnestrovie) is "moving towards more pluralism" and highlighted the parliament's reform initiatives which were spearheaded by Yevgeny Shevchuk's party. (With information from Regnum)
See also:
» For opposition leader, the survival of Pridnestrovie is more important than who has the top job
» Experts: Challenge underway from PMR's opposition-controlled parliament
» Yevgeny Shevchuk: "We will work for more and more democratization"
Protesters supporting two left-wing parties in Pridnestrovie demand the early resignation of President Igor Smirnov. They blame Smirnov for an increase in food prices and disagree with his government's economic policies. The demand came at a protest rally held in Tiraspol, which was billed as the largest opposition rally in the young country's 18 year old history. . . 
