Moldova

Moldova is Europe’s poorest country, in terms of income levels. The population has suffered severely during the transition after the fall of the Soviet Union. Child mortality is very high, the foreign debt enormous, corruption widespread, and up to a quarter of the employable population work abroad. Most of the country’s production and turnover are within the informal economy.
Moldova, which used to be called Bessarabia, has strong historical and cultural links with Romania, and the majority of the inhabitants speak Romanian. At the end of the Second World War Moldova became a Soviet republic. Russians moved to Moldova and took over the leading positions in its administration, while many Moldovans were deported to Central Asia. Moldova became independent in connection with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Despite the country turning away from Communism upon independence, the Moldovan Communist Party won the parliamentary elections of 2001. A more united opposition made gains in the 2005 parliamentary elections, but the Communists are still the largest party. According to international observers the elections were carried out in a fair and legal manner. The Communist Party’s politics have shifted between approaches to Russia and attempts to establish good relations with the EU and the West. It is probable that the reformist tendencies will continue as long as the regime sees economic advantages in closer relations with the EU.
The area east of the Dniester River, called the Dnestr Republic or Transnistria, where a large minority of Russians lives, has been ruled by a separatist administration since 1992. Russian troops, called to the Dnestr Republic to protect the Russian minority and Russian interests, remain. In 2006 there was a referendum, not internationally recognised, that the government claimed showed that 97 percent of the population of the Dnestr Republic wanted to have an independence republic, which in the long term should become part of Russia. The regime is also accused of playing an important role in the widespread organised crime, the human trafficking and smuggling of narcotics and weapons that characterises the entire region.
Moldova is an agricultural country. There was some industrialisation during the Soviet period, but the factories were generally placed in the region east of the Dniester, and do not benefit the rest of the country.
Analysis
Civil society is relatively strong and there are several well-established and active organisations with many motivated and well-educated members. Intensive support for the various areas of civil society would strengthen the development of democracy. Some of the small voluntary organisations are, however, led by more private interests.
The pro-regime trade unions are still powerful. The free trade unions, on the other hand, are often the targets of pressure and interference, since they are regarded as a threat.
Moldova is unique in that it is the only former Soviet Republic that through free elections has returned to power the Communist Party that ruled during the Soviet period. The Communist Party has been seen by many, especially the rural population, as a guarantee of stability. To achieve democratic and sustainable development, however, what is needed is a strong multi-party system, as well as political activists on the grassroots level.
According to the Council of Europe respect for human rights has diminished since the Communists returned to power. The Communist regime uses the mass media as a propaganda tool. A common tactic is to threaten that someone will lose their job if they don’t join the Communist Party.
HIV/AIDS is an increasing problem, which could rapidly escalate. Moldova is one of the countries in Europe suffering most from human trafficking of women and children, the sex slave trade. Drug and alcohol abuse is widespread.
Women are severely underrepresented in Moldovan politics. Efforts to strengthen the human rights of women in the country and to prevent human trafficking are insufficient.
The younger generation in Moldova is weighed down by pessimism and a sense of hopelessness. This is reflected in a lack of interest in politics and very low election turnout. The export of labour means that many adults are not participating in the country’s development. The money they send to Moldova makes up a large part of the country’s income but the visits abroad split families and lead to many children being separated from their parents. Far too often those who go out into the world alone are tricked or forced into prostitution.
Development Co-operation
After the fall of the Soviet Union the farming collectives, the “kolkhoz”, were split up into lots which were far too small to support a farm family. One of the Palme Center’s member organisations, the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union, is carrying out a project in the Moldovan countryside, to improve and rationalise production.
The Swedish Co-operative Union, KF, is carrying out a project through the Palme Center to help the Moldovan co-operative movement to increase the level of service and offer a better assortment at better prices to consumers. KF is training administrators and specialists in key positions, and is working to introduce democratic processes in co-operative operations, as well as techniques to recruit new active members. The project contributes to greater awareness about the importance of women’s equality, since it is often women who are in leadership positions in co-operatives, and who become a role model for other women in Moldova.
A necessity for the future development of Moldava is succeeding in providing children and young people with the knowledge and skills that will allow them to take responsibility in the future.
The Social Democrat youth organisation the Young Eagles (Unga Örnar) is working with youth activities in five villages north of Chisinau. Adult leaders are trained to carry out democratic activities based on the Young Eagles’ principles and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. There is a special effort to help orphans.
The Palme Center is also working to strengthen domestic organisations working for children’s rights. The goal is to deepen democracy, build up organisations, and strengthen civil society.