What does USR do wrong to step? “In Moldova you do not allow you not to vote step. The Romanians are well enough”
On Reddit there was an extensive discussion about the similarities and differences between the Union Save Romania (USR) and the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) in the Republic of Moldova. From the way they relate to the electorate to leaders and geopolitical context.
The party that supports Maia Sandu has won the elections in Moldova. Photo: Profimedia
What did the USR wrong with? Photo: Reddit
The victory step at the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova brought into question the USR issue, the reformist party that promised a new political class, now a disappointment. A debate on Reddit shows the causes of the party's decay and the difference between the two political entities.
One of the comments summarizes from the beginning the big difference:
“Pas is what would have been USR if the Big Tent party remained in the 2019 MEPs. PAS addresses a much more diverse electorate, USR seems to exist only for corporatists in big cities. And USR is not as bidder as a step. In Moldova, if you do not vote for, you vote pro-Russ.”
Another user draws attention that situations are hard to compare:
“It seems to me that apples are compared with pears and completely ignore the completely different geopolitical context between Moldova and Romania. Moldova is between East and West, as the future it has to be decided between the EU and Russia. Moldovans see what the Russians do in Ukraine and from there the massive vote for the direction that is not Russia. PAS is pro-European predecessor, USR is much more. Anti-EU when you are in the EU. ”
USR weaknesses
The Romanian commentators are very critical with the party founded by Nicușor Dan:
“USR made positioning mistakes. He did not insist too much on themes such as nationalism, family, religion. Many USR supporters were crazy about them. They are deeply human, extremely important for a large number of voters. They should not be neglected.”
Another talks about the wrong picture in society:
“It is quite annoying that USR is still considered a Marxist LGBT party by the rest of the population, when in fact all progressives have left the party. DAP, I would say that the progressive party is now. In contrast, in the current social context, the USR has more to gain if it is far from progressive excesses.“
The issue of lack of local presence is also recurrent:
“The USR has no presence in the country, in the mayors. PSD has 1,677, PNL 1,132, UDMR 200, gold 30, USR only 28. How to count at national level with such a base? Does nobody have no reason to vote.”
A harsh summary comes from a former voter:
“The world has lost hope in them, they made too many mistakes to exist. What remained of them is the corporate market in big cities, maybe not because they wanted it, but because they were too unable to focus on something else. Like a corporate from a big city, I could not vote for some time.”
Step and the importance of leaders
In the case of step, more users underline the decisive role of Maia Sandu:
“Maia Sandu is representative for the step, and people trust her. It would have happened with Lasconi (who had a chance) if she did not hurt her in the bar in recent months. Lasconi is not as versed as Maia Sandu, she has no training, political or diplomatic tact. Maia seemed to have been done for the president.”
But there are also ironic comparisons:
“Lasconi could be Maia Sandu just as Nicușor could be Zelenski. Let's not compare some people just because they are the same kind.”
“A perfect party? Fuck no. A necessary party? Fuck Yes.”
On the Moldovan side, step is seen as indispensable, even if not without problems:
“I am from the MD and I can confirm that PAS has taken many mayors and local people from other parties. Some came with many skeletons, but without that they did not win the parliamentary majorities even in a thousand years. Is it a perfect party? Fuck no. Is it an absolutely necessary party at the moment? Fuck Yes.”
And the difference in perception is simply synthesized:
“In Moldova you do not allow yourself not to vote step. The Romanians are good enough that they forgot how it is really bad.”
The community on Reddit is almost unanimous: the PAS -USR comparison is rather artificial. As a commentator says, “We have the luxury to possess problems like 'USR is for corporatists', Moldovans do not – for them, the vote for the step is a question of geopolitical survival.”
While PAS managed to become the dominant party in a society trapped between East and West, USR was fragmented, lost its charismatic leaders and remained a “niche party”. The fundamental difference: Moldova is looking for protection and future in the EU, Romania already has them and allows its votes to divide.
