Context
Did the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) succeed to honor their campaign promises after 4 years in power or not? In the electoral controversy on the eve of the parliamentary elections, it seems difficult to find the answer. However, the Watchdog.MD experts decided to bring order to chaos and analyzed point-by-point the PAS program, in order to see which promises have been fulfilled and which had remained only on paper. The result is average: the degree of fulfillment of PAS’ promises starting from 2021 is 56%.
Methodology, in Brief:
- Watchdog.MD analysis follows the logic (similar, but not identical) used in 2023 for the assessment of promises made by Mayor Ion Ceban (2019): at that time, 13% of them were fully accomplished and 28% were partially fulfilled. Applying the current analysis scheme, we established that the Mayor has fulfilled only 27% of his promises.
- A scale of 0 to 1 (up to 1,5 points for “over-fulfillment”) was assigned as a score for each promise.
- The assessment was carried out by WatchDog.MD experts, with the contribution of specialists in economics, agriculture, entrepreneurship, justice, transport, IT and reintegration.
The Government Context
PAS enjoyed a parliamentary majority and, simultaneously, has faced unprecedented crises: Russia’s war against Ukraine, energy blackmail, and record inflation, factors that decreased the purchasing power and the impact of public investments. In this context, there were both notable achievements and failures – some of them visible, others more discreet.
General Conclusions
The conclusions are as follows: PAS managed to fulfill approximately 56% of the promises included in the “Good Times” program with which it came to power. Is this score sufficient for the party to remain in power or not? We will find out after the elections.
The lowest results (in terms of promises, not necessarily actions) are in the areas of state-owned institutions reform, major infrastructure projects, the environment, transport and culture. Although in most cases there are several important achievements to note, these are not necessarily part of the specific promises made in 2021. In other words, the WatchDog.MD assessment does not represent a general evaluation of the PAS governance, and refers strictly to the campaign program with which this party won the elections.
The highest implementation rates (even “above the plan”) are recorded in the areas such as “Support for Youth” and “Local Development Projects”. The promises regarding families with children, the diaspora, foreign policy and energy have been accomplished almost in proportion to 100%.
Per general, we can establish that those areas which were written with clear, realistic indicators, developed by specialists and not by politicians, enjoy a much higher achievement rate. On the other hand, vague promises or those extravagant regarding airports, modern railways, bridges built in 4 years, without even feasibility studies at that stage, the reconstruction of major historical complexes, for which there were neither technical projects nor cost estimates — most of these things remained only on paper. In the best case scenario, for some of them, feasibility studies are just being carried out or contracts for works are being signed at the end of four years of PAS government.
Foreign policy stands out in terms of promises successfully accomplished: Moldova has become a candidate for EU membership and has already begun the negotiations process. The relations with neighbouring countries, Romania and Ukraine, have considerably improved, with concrete benefits, such as cooperation in the energy sector (electricity imports from Romania have contributed avoiding an energy crisis like the one in Transnistria), investments in infrastructure (the rehabilitation of Basarabeasca – Berezina railway section with Ukraine) and border control strengthening.
The diaspora has also enjoyed significant attention from the government. The repatriation law has been passed, consular fees reduced by 50%, the eConsulat platform has been launched, and Moldovan’s driving licenses and pensions have been recognized in several countries. The “PARE 1+2” Programme made it possible for many Moldovans to return home and start businesses in the country.
PAS has managed to fulfill its electoral promises regarding social protection. During this government’s term, the minimum pension increased up to 3,300 MDL, although an increase to 2,000 MDL was promised; the one-time child birth allowance has been raised to 21,350 MDL compared to the promised 10,000 MDL increase. At the same time, the tax exemptions for children and dependents have significantly increased; flexible maternity and paternity leave have been introduced; the possibility of remote work and incentives for fathers to get involved have appeared. Additionally, middle school students receive free meals – a bonus that was not even provided in the program.
However, the “over-fullfillment” of certain promises is caused by the inflation growth up to 70%. Even though, generally speaking, the price increase was determined by external factors, this has seriously affected the purchasing power and the value of public investments.
For example, as it was promised, the PAS government has increased the agricultural subsidy Fund to over 1.7 billion MDL and the budget for road rehabilitation, reconstruction and maintenance to 3.2 billion MLD, but these figures are sufficient in the context of accumulated inflation.
Some of the promises remained only on paper: The Silver Fund for seniors; the European gauge railway to Chisinau; the thermal rehabilitation and facade reconstructions of 20% of the country’s apartment buildings; restoration of the “Serghei Lunchevici” National Philharmonic building; as well as more ambitious promises, such as combating political defections through legislative measures or building of national consensus – both between political forces and within society – regarding the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.
One of the most controversial chapters is regarding judicial reform. Among the promises made by PAS are an Anticorruption Tribunal and Court of Appeal, the confiscation of unjustified assets, and the extraordinary evaluation of judges and prosecutors.
Some of the reforms have indeed been initiated: restructuring of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, reducing the number of judges at the Supreme Court of Justice, the pre-vetting and vetting processes, but their implementation has been partial and slow. The Anticorruption Court was not established as promised, but replaced by specialized panels. The extended confiscation of unjustified wealth remains at the concept stage, and the removal of immunity for cases of corruption has not been advanced.
Beyond the details, the fundamental problem is that corruption has not disappeared from the judicial system and prosecutor’s office, which undermines people’s trust in justice and affects the state security towards external and oligarchic threats.
Therefore, analyzing all of the existing PAS’ commitments, to a greater or lesser extent, assessed or verified, we establish that the level of promises fulfillment after four years of government is approximately 56%.
This figure is based on the analysis and estimates made by the Watchdog.MD experts, as well as contributions of several specialists (in economics, agriculture, entrepreneurship, justice, transport, IT and reintegration). The degree of fulfillment of each promise was evaluated with a score from 0 to 1, and the “over-fulfilled” promises with up to 1,5 points. Since some of the promises are more vague or difficult to quantify, the assessments obviously contain a certain degree of subjectivity. The table of promises and scores can be viewed below.
| No. | Chapter/area of election promises | Score Accumulated | Total possible score | Fulfillment % |
| 1 | Good Times for Families with Children | 4.75 | 5 | 95% |
| 2 | Good Times for People from Moldova’s Villages and Cities | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 3 | Good Times for Retirees | 3.25 | 6 | 54% |
| 4 | Good Times for Youth | 6.5 | 5 | 130% |
| 5 | Good Times for Women | 2 | 3 | 67% |
| 6 | Good Times for Moldovans from The Diaspora | 4.75 | 5 | 95% |
| 7 | Good Times for Entrepreneurs | 4.5 | 6 | 75% |
| 8 | Good Times for Agricultors | 2.75 | 5 | 55% |
| 9 | Good Times for Public Sector Employees | 2 | 3 | 67% |
| 10 | For Management and Teaching Staff | 3.5 | 5 | 70% |
| 11 | For Policemen | 1.75 | 4 | 44% |
| 12 | Energy | 2.75 | 3 | 92% |
| 13 | Transport | 0.5 | 4 | 13% |
| 14 | Villages and Cities Development Projects | 0.5 | 5 | 10% |
| 15 | Environment | 0.25 | 3 | 8% |
| 16 | Culture | 0.75 | 3 | 25% |
| 17 | Justice and Anticorruption | 5.75 | 15 | 38% |
| 18 | Economy and Entrepreneurship | 3 | 5 | 60% |
| 19 | Digital Economy, IT and Communications | 2 | 3 | 67% |
| 20 | Infrastructure, Transport and Constructions | 3.25 | 4 | 81% |
| 21 | Fight against corruption, monopolies, a poor management in state-owned enterprises | 0.25 | 3 | 8% |
| 22 | Foreign Policy | 3.75 | 4 | 94% |
| 23 | State Reintegration | 2.25 | 7 | 32% |
| 24 | Free Mass Media | 3 | 5 | 60% |
| 25 | Good Governance and Reforming the Political Class | 3.5 | 10 | 35% |
| Total | 69.25 | 123 | 56%
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