The European Social Democratic Party (PSDE) issued a declaration condemning party switching and urges all parties, regardless of their political color, to sign it. According to the PSDE, thus the parties will commit themselves to condemn this phenomenon, not to allow the abusive use of administrative, budgetary resources and European funds for political purposes and for encouraging party switching, IPN reports.
PSDE leader Ion Sula told a press conference that the declaration was drafted following talks with a number of political parties and is proposed for signature to all parties. The PSDE has previously informed the public opinion, the European partners and embassies about the challenges related to party switching and the use of administrative resources by the government. Unfortunately, no state institution reacted to “the illegalities and pressure exerted by the government in managing public money, including within the European Village program”
“Party switching is not just a change in party affiliation, but is betrayal of voters’ trust. When politicians, people’s elected representatives, change parties, they ignore the promises made to voters and put their own interests above the public interest. Thus, the will of the electorate is ignored and the democratic system is endangered,” said Ion Sula.
He noted that the declaration proposed by the PSDE is not only a condemnation of this undemocratic practice, but is also a call to action. More specifically, for political parties it is an appeal to promote integrity and transparency within parties, to fight corruption and the influence of money in politics. For the citizens, it is an appeal to get actively involved in political life, to get informed about candidates and parties, to vote responsibly only with those who condemn party switching and to ask elected representatives to take concrete measures against party switching. At the same time, it is an appeal for the state institutions to adopt the legal and institutional framework to prevent and punish party switching.
“We propose that a candidate should automatically lose the held seat if they leave the party and should be banned from contending for the same seat if they switch parties after the elections. This rule would discourage party switching and force politicians to be more responsible towards voters,” said Ion Sula.
