Vadim Ciobanu
A statement from “Forța Fermierilor” on this occasion notes that during the dialogue “a representative of the farmers’ association raised a crucial issue regarding current fiscal policy and asked Mr. Tofan for his opinion on the plans to increase VAT rates on agricultural products and foodstuffs, receiving an evasive response.”
For his part, Vadim Ciobanu, “as part of the development of the government’s program,” presented the organization’s vision for the development of the agro-industrial sector to the candidate. “Forța Fermierilor,” as before, hopes for a comprehensive approach that, alongside purely economic elements, should also include elements that fall more within the realm of social policy, namely:
- a new strategy for food security and sovereignty;
- special support for micro, small, and medium-sized farms;
- maintaining reduced VAT rates in the agribusiness sector;
- transition to the European system of direct payments in agriculture;
- ensuring access to preferential financing for the majority of farmers;
- adapting the agricultural sector to climate change;
- “small-scale” industrialization of the sector;
- protection and promotion of local agri-food products.
The “Forța Fermierilor” Association has assured that it is ready for constructive dialogue with the new government, but insists on changing the existing model of agriculture, which benefits transnational corporations.
A note from the author of this Logos Presspublication : Do you still remember the slogans from the early post-Soviet period: “Rock Without Drugs,” “Courchevel Without Oligarchs,” and so on? A representative of billion-dollar investment funds and multinational corporations at the head of a government that takes into account the interests of small businesses and ordinary people—that’s an oxymoron of the same order. But as one of the recognized geniuses of Soviet cinema once said: “You have to try.” Try “on the sidelines,” that is, before the new cabinet of ministers and the government’s program are appointed, to make its members understand that “effective corporate management aimed at minimizing losses and maximizing profits” and public administration are—for now—not one and the same. In theory, perhaps, Moldova could become Singapore, and at some point in the future, in some historical account, from some perspective, someone might read “Vasile Tofan” as “Lee Kuan Yew.” But given current realities, we’re still a long way from that. And winter is coming. And even in a state that is, to put it mildly, not very socially oriented, it will be difficult to brush aside social problems.
