EAP Think Bridge - № 2017-02 - Moldova between two fires: the 2016 presidential election and the balance of power
EAP Think Bridge - № 2017-02 - Moldova between two fires: the 2016 presidential election and the balance of power

Author(s): Richard Giragosian, Vugar Bayramov, Arseniy Sivitsky, Lasha Tughushi, Natalia Sterkul, Sergiy Gerasymchuk, Alla Rosca
Subject(s): Regional Geography, Governance, International relations/trade, Present Times (2010 - today), Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: PIC Promotion of the Intercultural Cooperation
Summary/Abstract: As for political life, January is traditionally a lull month for the Eastern Partnership. However, despite of long holidays and endless days off, the beginning of the year gave a start to the processes that will be important for further developments in the region. In Armenia two distinct opposition coalitions were formed that want to challenge the ruling Republican Party in the April parliamentary elections. The Azerbaijani government is trying to overcome the consequences of the economic crisis and thus launched the implementation of the road-maps for 11 main sectors of the economy. In Belarus, the President proceeded with the mobilization rhetoric openly pointing at its eastern neighbor as the threat for state sovereignty and statehood. Due to the heavy dependence on Russian gas, Georgia was forced to sign a disadvantageous gas deal with Gazprom. And Ukraine in the context of yet again escalating conflict with Russia drew the red lines which it refuses to cross in its negotiations. The traditional short review of the month in the EaP Think Bridge Digest depicts all the major events in the region. At the same time in Moldova the newly elected president, Socialist-leader Igor Dodon, takes his first steps in the office, moving beyond pre-election rhetoric. Symptomatic Dodon chose Moscow as a distinction for his first official foreign visit. What made Moldova, the “champion” of the Eastern Partnership and the “success story” on the path to European integration, vote for an openly pro-Russian candidate? And does this choice mean the reversal of foreign policy – from Brussels to the Kremlin? The answers are provided by the analysts of Foreign Policy Association of Moldova. //// CONTENT: ARMENIA: PREPARING FOR POLITICAL BATTLE // AZERBAIJAN: TENSIONS IN RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA // BELARUS: THREATS TO THE INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY OF BELARUS // GEORGIA: GAS ISSUES WITH RUSSIA HEAT UP THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE // MOLDOVA: DODON IS MOVING BEYOND RHETORIC // UKRAINE: A LULL IN DOMESTIC POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL BATTLES // ANALYTICA: MOLDOVA BETWEEN TWO FIRES: THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE BALANCE OF POWER

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