Only that it is Moldavia... The last days' reports from Moldavia is scaringly similar to what we experienced in Mongolia last summer. Down to the demonstrating young men. They call themseleves democrats and anti-communists and burn the parliament down. (In Mongolia it was the Socialist party's head quarters.)
Former Soviet republics or allies are trying to loosen themselves from Communism. International observers say that the elections in both Moldavia and Mongolia were fair but the so called democrats refuse to accept the outcome. An outcome that is probably caused by the Socialists being superior in organising themselves locally. (After having done so for many years...)
The demonstrating "democrats" on the other hand don't have the time or will to travel the countryside for meetings with the people. They are based in the bigger cities and often led by charismatic leaders that are more prone to flirting with the West than with their own voters.
Yes, this is a quite rough picture but looking on what happened in Mongolia, in Georgia and in Moldavia, where right wing groups are mixing with students, fascists and anti-communists it could well be a leathal cocktail. Swedish broadsheets Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet refer to the looting men burning down the Parliament (!) as anti-communists. I call that anti-democratic.
When I make a quick glance at the bloggosphere in Sweden I find a couple of interersting blogs. Erik and Lars Bokander who are in Chisinau. Looking at BBC I find nothing. Once again it is bloggers who are there when it happens. For Mongolia I recommend Bilguun at the Asian Gypsy blog.
For a more thorough article on the election system of Mongolia, see this blog.
An alternative view is that young Moldavians are simply fed up with their current living conditions and an authoritarian state. They only need to look across the border to their Romanian cousins, who are now part of the EU for a reminder that life under communism sucks. Of course, I wouldn't endorse violence in any shape and form, but it's a pity that the opposition couldn't get their act together and the "oldies" got their way once again. Democracy is a learnt thing so let's hope that Moldavian opposition and civil society groups are better organised in time for the next election.
SvaraRaderaKatharina
Katharina,
SvaraRaderaWell, Romania being 'better off' says something about the living conditions in Moldavia. But I am not sure Neo Liberalism is the best democratic solution for a poor country as Moldavia. (And I do not mean Communism is either.)
How is the civil society on Moldavia? In Mongolia there is not civil society, which is kind of part of the problem.
See also Hubbys blog for a deeper analysis:
SvaraRaderahttp://dlm-reclaimyourlife.blogspot.com/2009/04/moldavia-and-burning-of-parliament.html
Interesting article: http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/idea/moldova-time-to-take-sides
SvaraRaderaKatharina
Interesting, and I think she's right on most parts. But still people seem to vote for the socialists...
SvaraRaderaAnd how do you build a civil society with such a small and poor population who is divided in different language groups? I've been working all my life for different NGO's and the less people/members the less democratic it seems to become. (Mostly because it gives room to a system with one leader who takes over...)
Today I've read some articles about Thailand and how easy it is to pay demonstrators in poor countries. Hence it is very hard to know who is who and what is their real objects. On the other hand we must be careful to pose guilt by association on people.