CHISINAU. Aug 22 (Interfax) - The deputy speaker of the Moldovan parliament and leader of the parliamentary faction of the Platform DA party, which is a member of the country's ruling coalition, Alexander Slusar, has said that the situation surrounding Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's upcoming visit to Chisinau does not help promote mutual understanding within the ruling majority.
"In order to keep both the ruling majority and the government, we need to move away from geopolitics. This also concerns Shoigu's visit. In my opinion, this visit is a mistake on the part of those who organized it. It's a mistake that won't help bolster mutual understanding within the ruling majority," Slusar said at a press conference in parliament on Thursday.
He explained the delay in signing a new agreement between the right-wing party and the Party of Socialists by two factors -"justice reform and geopolitics."
"The justice reform is a top priority amid the ongoing process of changes. And these changes ought to take several months, not four years. Otherwise, the justice system which was inherited from Plahotniuc [Moldovan oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, who has recently fled Moldova] and in which he invested heavily will keep its strength and will be able to influence political processes in Moldova. And here the biggest question arises: is the Party of Socialists ready to back these reforms?" Slusar said.
"It's necessary to stick to the assumed obligations not to raise geopolitical issues, thus causing discord among citizens. I understand that we're on the threshold of local elections, but it's also necessary to stay as responsible as possible," the politician said.
Moldovan Prime Minister Maia Sandu said at a government meeting on Wednesday that Shoigu may visit Moldova on August 24 only as a private individual, as the visit had not been cleared with the government and the Foreign Ministry of Moldova. She also ordered that Moldovan Ambassador to Russia Andrei Neguta be recalled to Chisinau for consultations regarding Shoigu's visit.
Moldovan President Igor Dodon, in turn, said that Shoigu would attend ceremonies dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Moldova from fascism during World War II in Chisinau on August 24. Dodon said that Shoigu would arrive in Chisinau at his own invitation. The Party of Socialists, whose informal leader is Dodon, is planning to hold mass anniversary events on Saturday.