Liberal Party Program

1. Who we are?

The Liberal Party of Moldova was formed as a result of the merger of:

• Party of Rebirth and Reconciliation of Moldova;
• Socio-Liberal Union "Moldova's Force";
• National Christian-Democratic Peasants' Party.

It includes representatives of democratic forces of the Republic of Moldova and continues the Democratic Movement for the National Revival and Freedom launched in the spring of 1987.

In its policy, the party acknowledges its responsibility for the peoples' destiny and that of our country, for defending national interests and democratic institutions, citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms, and for ensuring a decent living for everyone.

The party aims to adequately respond to the political and socio-economic challenges laying ahead of the Republic of Moldova at the beginning of the XXI century. The party strives to provide a political response to the new realities and thus meet the following needs: regrouping of the reformatory and democratic forces of the society, changing the message and forms of political life in view of promoting genuine liberal reforms, stopping the offensive of totalitarian forces, and European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the Republic of Moldova.

The distortion of the socio-economic reforms, incoherent policy, accentuating totalitarian tendencies point to the need of a political force able to clearly define a reformatory and democratic strategic policy, an alternative to the previous as well as to the incumbent, Communist, governing. A clear, constructive and persuasive alternative - a new concept on how to overcome the tough situation the country is facing should be presented to the people.

The party aims to convince the people of the Republic of Moldova that at the beginning of the previous decade democratic forces scored a high-pace of reforms, being in the top of the former Soviet republics, however after the come back of nostalgic forces the democratic and reform processes have been stopped. The Liberal Party believes that democracy and reforms should become attractive for and win the support of the entire society. This could be achieved through radical and rapid transformations, through coherent and accelerated orientation towards rule of law and market economy.

2. A difficult legacy

The collapse of the Soviet totalitarian regime set a favorable environment for the establishment of the independent state - Republic of Moldova and for accomplishing peoples' option for democracy, reform and European integration.

However the reforms suffered a great loss due to the economy decline, chaos in the social sphere and last but not least political instability. There are two major causes for the said situation:

1. Due to its geographic location at the crossroads of major geopolitical interests, Republic of Moldova has become a buffer zone, which generated instability, disintegration of the country, criminalization of the society and partially of the governing. The efficient levers of the former imperial Center did not allow Republic of Moldova to promote a consequent policy oriented towards European integration and to adopt a pragmatic approach in relations with the neighborhood countries. The permanent destructive interference induced false ethnic problems, which hindered the consolidation of the society in view of edifying a rule of law state and promoting market economy;

2. Another major drawback was the partial comeback in 1994 and in 1996 of people of old mentality to the key positions, who mocked the reforms and preserved the distributive and restrictive character of the state bureaucratic structures. Denatured reforms promoted have ruined the economic potential, have stalled entrepreneurship development and perpetrated the stereotypes of the administrative-directive system. All those led to the mingling of the criminal and state structures at all the levels generating a polarized society - a small oligarchic group at one pole, and the great impoverished majority at the other. Under those circumstances the electorate in despair voted for the populist and nostalgic party. As a result, what we have now is a society affected by immorality, disease and social vices, worsening environment, decay in education, alcoholism, prostitution, drugs, etc.

3. What is our choice?

Republic of Moldova is an integral party of the European cultural space. In this respect a major objective in securing a place in the European architecture is integration in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. Consequently, modernization of the society and state in line with the western values and domestic traditions are deemed necessary.

The Constitutional provisions and Republic of Moldova laws, as well as the norms of Western democracy, i.e. primacy of citizen's rights and freedoms - cornerstone of liberal thinking, guide the Party in its activity. The party recognizes the supremacy of European norms and principles to which the Republic of Moldova has adhered.

Given that Republic of Moldova has been out of circuit of European socio-economic, cultural and spiritual developments, the Liberal Party of Moldova acknowledges the whole set of problems we are confronted with, first and foremost that of Soviet-type mentality, i.e. primitive, egalitarian, and docile to any governing. Implicitly, the Liberal Party of Moldova will develop and later on implement a series of major economic, social and cultural projects aimed in short terms to bring the Republic of Moldova in line with the European standards.

4. We wish a new type of political party

The party relies on the contemporary liberalism doctrine, which is a result of the development of classical liberal trends combining individual freedoms, minimal state involvement, primacy of private property, free competition and initiative, and adequate social security. Contemporary liberalism lent a new and practical thought to Western Europe, where general welfare cannot be conceived without the welfare of each individual. We believe liberalism is the most efficient path for the development of the former socialist countries, which underwent the experience of edifying a rich country with poor citizens. The experience of the post-Communist countries proved that liberal reforms are able to accelerate the transition and revive economy.

To achieve those goals, the party will promote broad-minded personnel, unmarked by the old mentality and bureaucratic stereotypes. We shall address the need to reorganize our political elite, diminish the influence of oligarchic and criminal clans, and that of the people, who compromised themselves in the previous governing.

The gradual renewal of the political elite, promotion of young professional people, and overcoming primitive and populist attitudes would eventually result in a modern, militant party able to stop the socio-economic decline and resume genuine liberal reforms. At the same time, the party militates against the nihilist attempts of blaming political experience and politicians on the grounds that they do not embody young generation. The party also supports continuous efforts undertaken by all the generations in conducting liberal reforms. Liberals are aware that citizens' confidence in democratic values may be gained once a new team, a sacrificed one, comes to power, which would prove self-denial, honesty and correctness and would promote transparency and equity.

To achieve this goal, the party will encourage each politician and decision-maker to adhere to a Code of Ethics.

The adoption of the Law on Classified Files and Access to Security Archives would help us prevent the people - easy targets for blackmail, from being promoted to key positions in the state administration.

5. We are socially oriented

A party is a political organization representing the interests of middle class, business, workers, farmers, clerks, teachers, medical workers, technical professionals, artists, youth, pensioners as well as other social strata, regardless of its nationality and religion.

The party will recruit new, open minded and creative members from business sharing the liberal values, and acknowledging the need for a political party able to promote and defend their interests for the sake of the prosperity of the entire society.

The party will observe equilibrium between central and local interests, between different ethnic groups and will establish an environment boosting stability and social, interethnic and religious tolerance.

6. Why this doctrine?

A party could only unite people around a doctrine representing a set of values, ideas and concepts about the society in general. We found out that the greatest accomplishments have been achieved by the nations following a liberal doctrine. The liberal option allowed for free production, free initiative and competition, state non-interference in business, and last but not least establishment of a stable, dynamic and efficient economy having a huge social potential. At the same time, the socio-economic developments in the developed countries have pointed to the need of supplementing the traditional liberal values with new elements focussing more on social sphere. The idea of neo-liberalism combining the advantages of free market with those of social security is gaining grounds in Europe. The party believes the principles of private property, open market, primacy of citizens' rights over state structures, state non-interference in business are indisputable. However, in transition periods the excessive polarization of the society into rich and poor is extremely dangerous, that is why in such case the state has to interfere and protect the socially vulnerable strata. In the Republic of Moldova liberalism is the most opportune political doctrine, as the economy needs rapid and efficient liberal reforms, whereas the society needs a balanced social policy, which could only be ensured by an efficient economic policy. Under the current circumstances, the liberalism will on the one hand ensure individual's freedom, and on the other will stop the impoverishment of the population, spread of corruption and crime within the government.

7. What kind of state do we need?

To fulfil the party conceptual goals we would have to consequently solve the political goals. In the initial stage, our main objective would be to consolidate reformatory forces, create an efficient opposition, and renew Moldovan political elite. Those goals may be fulfilled by means of a majority parliamentary faction and representatives in the local government.

Finalizing state edification denounces the establishment of a national body requiring modernization and European integration, where all the citizens and most importantly public officers strictly observe the law.

The liberals believe the state is strong as long as free and strong citizens form it. A state established by citizens and for citizens is a minimal state, as it has limited prerogatives as compared to the individual. The citizens control directly and in a democratic manner the activity of state bodies and if the latter fail to observe the social agreement expressed in the Constitution they would sanction the state. According to the liberals the minimal state is a weak state. On contrary the less citizens' liberties and initiatives are restricted the stronger the state is.

The party opts for finalizing the legislative and institutional processes related to the parliamentary governing in the Republic of Moldova by reducing the competencies of the President and granting additional prerogatives to the Prime Minister, who'll be responsible for all the policies promoted. Under the circumstances of increasing role played by political parties in a parliamentary form of governing, the leader of the party winning in elections or the person elected to the position by the majority parliamentary coalition should assume such a role.

It is necessary to reform the state megalo-apparatus so as to raise the status of public officers, their professionalism and responsibility and to reduce state's interference in economy, provided an appropriate remuneration is secured so as to decrease corruption phenomenon.

The party deems necessary to ensure the state national unity via societies' solidarity on a generally-accepted idea, which in the current circumstances is the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the Republic of Moldova by alleviating poverty and attaining Western social standards. The society's solidarity in view of integration in the European political, economic and military structures implies that each and every citizen, regardless of nationality acknowledges his/her responsibility for the destiny of the Republic of Moldova, shares the natives' historic and cultural values including the Romanian language, provided conditions are ensured for the non-natives to preserve their ethnic, cultural and linguistic identity in line with the generally accepted principles.

The Liberal Party of Moldova believes that ethnic conflicts may be resolved by edifying a state of citizens equal under the law and accountable to the society. According to the liberals, besides ensuring minorities' cultural development it is extremely important for them to rapidly integrate in the society by possessing the language, knowing the culture and history of the majority population.

Equilateral interaction of the state and society is possible only by fostering citizens' self-organization, by developing, cooperating and acknowledging the role of civil society in solving community problems and in monitoring the state.

8. What are our priorities?

1. Economic reform and social security:
   • Resuming privatization program and attracting foreign investments;
   • Developing and implementing a large-scale post-privatization plan;
   • Passing a permissive Fiscal Code, establishing a favorable environment for the small and medium business development;
   • Ensuring a favorable conditions for investments, boosting free enterprise and competition;
   • Diversifying the market for domestic products;
   • Furthering the reform in agriculture and developing a comprehensive rural policy;
   • Ensuring energy security;
   • Reviving national industry;
   • Connecting the minimal consumer basket with the population income;
   • Indemnifying the incomes of the officers funded from the state budget;
   • Nominal compensation of the expenses incurred by the vulnerable strata for housekeeping and transportation;
   • Implementing a concrete program on poverty alleviation.

2. Fighting crime and corruption by:
   • Abolishing monopoly and ensuring free competition;
   • Replacing the current confiscatory fiscal system with a permissive and transparent one;
   • Diversifying energy sources;
   • Promoting transparency in the activity of state and public bodies;
   • Reducing to the maximum extend possible the bureaucracy existing to the high number of authorizations, licensees and restrictive instructions;
   • Eliminating conditions allowing oligarchic groups to operate;
   • Protecting domestic producers based on a legal framework ensuring loyal competition;
   • Encouraging bank involvement in economy;
   • Providing logistic assistance in the export of agricultural products;
   • Developing a legal framework and stable conditions boosting foreign investments;
   • Enforcing a single information system registering imports and exports;
   • Amending the legislation so as to ensure the independence, including the financial one of the judges;
   • Abrogation of the Law on Press and eliminating restrictive provisions of the current legislation related to the journalist liability, so as to ensure the freedom of speech and access to information.

   In the social sphere, the Party opts for rational transformations in the education and Medicare, coupled with increased allocations from the state budged and assistance to the socially vulnerable strata of society via nominal aid. Youth, science and culture are also to benefit of additional support.

3. Foreign policy:

   The party militates for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration to become a top priority. This is to be achieved by drawing closer to Europe's political, economic and security structures.

   This could be achieved by securing the support of Romania, with whom we would rejoin within the European community, in our historic, economic, cultural and linguistic space. The relationships with the neighborhood countries shall be based on mutual benefit, whereas Republic of Moldova will aim to achieve its major goals of state consolidation and European integration.

   The party will continue to rely on international assistance in settling the Transdnistrian conflict, on international standards in conflict resolution, while acknowledging that negative precedents might trigger destabilization in the South-Eastern Europe and affect worldwide security. A binding condition for consolidating Republic of Moldova sovereignty and its democratic institutions, for ensuring the security of the region and worldwide and for preventing terrorism, extremism and separatism is for Russia to respect its engagements on withdrawing its military and ammunition from Transdnistria.

   One of our priorities would be to sign agreements on the protection of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova abroad.

9. Final provisions

In line with its strategic goals, the Party shall develop specialized programs in view of:

• Finalizing agricultural reform and promotion of rural policies;
• Boosting the industry of the Republic of Moldova;
• Reforming social security system (education, culture, Medicare, youth, retirement system).

Program / Governing bodies / Participation in elections