Igor Dodon has been President of the Republic of Moldova since December 2016. The 44-year-old is said to be very Russia-friendly and often visits Vladimir Putin. Having studied economics at the turn of the millennium, he first made a career in the post-Soviet "Communist Party" (PCRM) and served as Minister of Economic Affairs and Trade.
Among other things, in the dispute over an increasingly pro-European orientation of the Communists Dodon left in 2011 together with other prominent members of the party and joined the hitherto completely insignificant "Socialist Party" (PSRM), whose chairman he was shortly thereafter.
Since 2014, the PSRM in elections is the strongest party of the Republic of Moldova and is chosen mainly by the Russophile and Russian-speaking inhabitants of the country. Dodon himself sometimes adapts his orientation to the political situation in the country, which causes irritations, especially in Russia. For example, he is no longer pleading for a termination of the EU Association Agreement.
Although nominally a socialist, he often represents ultra-conservative Christian positions and sees himself as the guardian of traditional family values. Since taking office as head of state, he is party-free, but in fact he is the leader of the socialists.
SPIEGEL: Mr. President, in your country, the oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc ruled for years without holding any state office. In early June, his regime collapsed surprisingly. How did that happen?
Igor Dodon: Plahotniuc had taken the Republic of Moldova hostage, she was a captive state. There was a national consensus that this regime must end.
SPIEGEL: The change of power took place quickly, silently and above all peacefully, Plahotniuc fled abroad. How was the change possible?
Dodon: After the general election in February, the left and right-wing opposition, the Socialist Party and the ACUM party bloc, united against Plahotniuc and his Democratic Party and formed a coalition government on 8 June. This was a first in the modern history of the Republic of Moldova. Never before have parties with different ideological visions formed a common coalition.
SPIEGEL : Where is your country heading now?
Dodon: Our society is very divided. One half wants our country to become an EU member, the other half thinks we should be closer to Russia. But all had in common the desire for de-oligarchization. Important for the change of power was also the international consensus. Russia, the EU and the US had a common position.
SPIEGEL : This is the first time since the annexation of the Crimea that Russia, the EU and the US have agreed internationally. Can we talk about geopolitical cooperation?
Dodon: I think there is a consensus and common interest among the international players that are present in the Republic of Moldova, that there should be some stability and some balance in the country. Recently, I phoned the Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. I had the impression that he, too, sees it that way. The current coalition represents this balance.
SPIEGEL : How did the Federal President express that to you?
Dodon: In the conversation, I felt his support for this coalition and this government majority.
SPIEGEL : In general, the Moldovan media speak of an "unnatural coalition" because your party of the socialists advocates a close connection to Russia, while the party bloc ACUM strives for EU integration. How long will the coalition hold?
Dodon: That's very difficult to say. In a first stage we have united against something: against the regime of Plahotniuc. Now we have to decide what we stand for. If we can agree on that, the coalition can even last four years.
SPIEGEL : Prime Minister Maia Sandu of the party bloc ACUM strongly advocates the path of EU integration. On the other hand, they once demanded the termination of the 2014 EU Association Agreement.
Dodon: It is true that earlier the Socialist Party, of which I was the chairman, advocated the termination of this agreement. However, when I was elected President two years ago, I advocated a balanced foreign policy for Moldova. And the party joined. This means that we will comply with all international treaties, including the Association Agreement. At the same time, we are also seeking to restore our good relations with Russia.
SPIEGEL : How realistic is it that Moldova actually becomes an EU member?
Dodon: I do not think we can join the EU in the current situation. Let's be honest, the EU is not prepared for new members. The Western Balkans have been in the queue for years and have no clear perspective. We are even further away. We should consider the Association Agreement as an opportunity to help us improve the quality of life in our country, nothing more.
SPIEGEL : You are criticized in Moldovan media for traveling to Russia often and often meeting with Putin. What do you think?
Dodon: I have also made many visits to the West. In September I will travel to Brussels. I also plan to visit the USA.
Maria Feck / THE MIRROR
Dodon in an interview: "In which language did we have the conversation?"
SPIEGEL: What do you think about the annexation of Crimea? So far, you have not made a clear statement.
Dodon: The position of the Moldovan Presidency and the governance since independence in 1991 has always been the same: the Republic of Moldova recognizes Ukraine within internationally recognized borders. Point.
SPIEGEL : Does your party receive money from Russia?
Dodon: There is such speculation in the media, but such funding is prohibited by law in our country. A party that accepts payments from abroad is outside the law.
SPIEGEL : After the independence of your country from the Soviet Union in August 1991, the narrow strip of land of Transnistria split off, where Russian soldiers and weapons are still stationed. How can the Transnistria conflict be resolved and how should Transnistria be reintegrated into the Republic of Moldova?
Dodon: We are currently pursuing a policy of small steps and solutions to the obstacles in the daily lives of citizens. We have not yet begun negotiations on a political solution to the conflict. But I would risk saying that we could move very fast, because the current international consensus on the Republic of Moldova is favorable. We could be a success story of how a frozen conflict in the post-Soviet space could be solved for the first time.
THE MIRROR
The Republic of Moldova and the breakaway Transnistria
SPIEGEL : The federalization of Moldova, as Russia aspires to it, is very controversial in the country itself. In what form could Transnistria be reintegrated into the Republic of Moldova?
Dodon: I would imagine that Transnistria within the Moldovan state gets a special statute in the form of a very strong autonomy. Our Presidency has worked out a concept that we will present to our coalition partners.
SPIEGEL : As the president of an internationally recognized state, you will soon meet for the sixth time with Vadim Krasnoselski, the leader of Transnistria, which is not even recognized by Russia. Is this appreciation necessary?
Dodon: How else should we move forward? To achieve something, we need a dialogue. For me, the results count, not an alleged increase or decrease.
SPIEGEL : What are the results of these meetings?
Dodon: You can now call each other better. A new bridge over the Dniester was opened. Diplomas from educational institutions in Transnistria are recognized by us. The entry for citizens from the right bank of the Dniester River to Transnistria has become easier. We are negotiating a new railway connection, the solution of the banking problem and a complete abolition of the border posts. Under my presidency, we achieved more than in two and a half decades.
SPIEGEL : Mr President, we have had this conversation in the official language of the Republic of Moldova. In the constitution she is called "Moldovan". It is identical to Romanian. A ruling by the Constitutional Court in 2013 obliges Parliament to amend the constitution accordingly. That has not happened yet. In which language do you think we have had this conversation?
Dodon: The Constitutional Court has already made many controversial judgments. The official language in our country is Moldavian.