Shevchuk, the wind of change in Transnistria?
Chisinau / Moldova.org / -- Yevgeny Shevchuk, the new president of Transnistria is seen as “representative of a younger generation, having proposed constitutional reform in 2009 to limit presidential powers.” The opinion belongs to Dinu Toderascu, a Program Officer at the The Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
“Shevchuk had focused his campaign on fighting corruption and nepotism, which resonated well in a region where people are struggling to overcome economic hardship and where the leadership was often accused of embezzling funds meant for humanitarian purposes,” writes Toderascu in a report.
In his opinion, the raising to power of this leader is a long-awaited change in the East side of Moldova. He thinks that Moscow is happier now with the new leader, hoping for a better conflict management in the region.
“Moscow also welcomed the shift of power, having lately seen Smirnov as an obstacle to finding a solution to the protracted but frozen Transnistrian conflict,” said Mr. Toderascu.
According to his statement, Shevchuk is among few Transnistrian politicians who are being seen as modernizers and the European Union should have a greater trust in him.
“He was one of the few Transnistrian officials whose five-year travel ban to member states of the European Union was lifted at the beginning of 2008. He is also described by former EU Special Representative to Moldova Kalman Mizsei as a modernizer, and someone who should be welcomed by the European Union,” added the analyst.
Yevgeny Shevchuk promised to establish good relations with the neighboring countries, Moldova and Ukraine. He wants to assure a free movement of people across the borders and improve the country’s economy.
“It now remains to be seen whether Shevchuk will follow up his rhetoric with concrete actions,” asks Mr. Toderascu. “Change will not come quickly, and it is highly unlikely that Transnistria will reunite with Moldova in the near future. But with another round of talks scheduled for February, and with a more reform-minded leadership in Transnistria, Moldova might finally have a serious interlocutor in its efforts at finding a solution to this long-standing conflict,” concluded Dinu Toderascu.
Image courtesy: infoprut.ro
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