Maia Sandu had all the chances to win the election, but she was defeated because of the blunders committed in the election campaign: arrogance, aggressiveness and too narrow message. It is the conclusion of the Democratic Party (PD) president - Marian Lupu - who was kind enough to comment on the elections in an exclusive interview for Deschide.MD portal. Next we will learn whether he regrets the withdrawal from the electoral race, how other PD members have reacted to this decision and how sincere was their support for the pro-European candidate. Mr. Lupu tells us what kind of president will be Igor Dodon and why did he not go to vote in the first round of the presidential election.

We mention that before talking with Mr. Lupu, we requested an explanation from the honorary chairman of the Democratic Party - Dumitru Diacov - on his previous statements that the PD candidate withdrawal from the election had not been discussed in the party. "In fact, it was discussed shortly before the conference in a meeting where there were more members of the political bureau. However, eventually, the party could not do anything, while the decision belonged to the candidate."

We publish below the interview with Mr. Marian Lupu.

Reporter: To what extent do you think your withdrawal influenced the result obtained by Maia Sandu?

Marian Lupu: In the first round it influenced it at a large degree, minimum 10 to 12 percent of my voters and PDM ones went towards her, which was evident in the greater score that she gained in round 1. I think the same happened also in the runoff. Maia Sandu could have even more voters from the Democratic Party if she had a constructive message for them.

Reporter: How do you comment her attitude in relation to your withdrawal and PD members?

Marian Lupu: In the first phase she had a completely erroneous political reaction, and some of our voters are likely to have charged her for this. The fact that she reacted by making tens of thousands of people as criminals and corrupt ones, referring to PDM voters, had a very negative effect. Our mayors and heads of regional organizations have called us very upset; we had to send teams to calm them down in the territory. Unfortunately, even after that political blunder, Maia Sandu didn't have a message for our voters and did not try to approach them, even in the runoff. I think she has handled this situation too emotionally and I'm sure these mistakes were reflected in her ultimate result.

Reporter: Do you regret your withdrawal from the race, considering the outcome of the presidential election?

Marian Lupu: I regret that Igor Dodon won, I regret that the right has lost this battle. It was lost due to some stupid mistakes, not because people do not want in the EU. When I retired I said that I am doing it because I knew that there is a pro-European candidate supported by several political forces, which had a higher chance to beat Igor Dodon. I was right, Maia Sandu got a good score in the first round, but the goal was that in the runoff she would have found a common message for the pro-European electorate and would have attracted votes in order to win. She managed this only in the Diaspora, internally she took very little in addition to the first round, I would say disastrously little, that's because in the campaign for the runoff she has not diversified her message, has not explained to people what vision she has, she has focused only on corruption, which is important, but not sufficient. It was needed to add other topics of concern to society and to convince people that she understands their concerns. Maia Sandu got caught in the toils of Dodon, who pulled her cynically to conflict zones, which disadvantaged her. It is not only our opinion, it is a fact established by several national and international experts. In general the campaign, especially for the 2nd round was very dirty, which was not focused on solutions, but on the accusations and unfounded attacks.

Reporter: How received the PD members / territorial organizations your decision to withdraw from the race? Did they all comply with it or there were dissents against the party leadership?

Marian Lupu: Initially some received negatively this decision. Then, they understood it was a tactical decision beneficial for the country and received it well. However, they received worse the reaction of Maia Sandu, we had very heavy discussions with them, they felt offended by the bad and aggressive language, which has been used for them. Surely, there are different opinions all the time, it's hard to convince mayors from north to accept Maia Sandu, especially after she spoke to them like that, but from what I saw she got good votes in some north parts where we have Democratic mayors, even if the socialists' rating there is quite good.

Reporter: How sincere was the support of the Democratic Party for Maia Sandu, while the PD area including television channels close to PD spread materials that clearly disadvantaged her (i.e. the coverage from Prime about Syrians). In addition, many people from districts told that PD mayors made propaganda for Igor Dodon. Is this true? If yes, their decision was announced at the party, or was a tacit recantation?

Marian Lupu: Here are several paradoxes that have happened. When I announced that we support the Maia Sandu, her staff and the media that supported her, said that it's a poisoned apple and not to mention her name again. We complied, we did not name any names, we turned just ito the formula that we support tne pro-European candidate. When we did this the same personnel and the same press began to say that PDM does not support Maia Sandu honestly, that it does not give messages for her. It was simply hallucinatory their behavior. Afterwards started the same story related to the media, if a post gave a positive material about Maia Sandu, they were howling that they does this to her disfavor, if the material gave a negative, the same. Just look what I have said here, what a contradictory behavior had the staff of Maia Sandu and some of her supporters, to understand another reason he lost the election. Maia Sandu was not defeated by Dodon, she was defeated by the blunders made by her team, by some boys who have experimented on her politics, they have played with the campaign and they stole her success. Another reason was linked to the aggressive campaign that those of PAS did in the territory, multiple insults to the representatives of PDM, PL, PPEM, etc, a lot arrogance and incorrect attitude. Unfortunately, they were beaten by themselves. If they wanted the PDM electorate they should have conquered it with very simple and clear messages, not to curse it permanently. Dodon's campaign was lame, populist and manipulative, Maia Sandu could beat him with ease if they had a well thought strategy.

Reporter: You know Igor Dodon since the time when you were colleagues in the Communist Party. What kind of president he will be?

Marian Lupu: I have not said by chance that Igor Dodon is a dangerous candidate, a dangerous man. Precisely, because I know him. He is a very arrogant man, who uses any means to achieve his goals, objectives which may be to the detriment of the country, if we look at his messages from the campaign and his statements made immediately after November 13, in particular the return to the idea of federalization of Moldova. I remain to what I said and I say that Maia Sandu, even with the made blunders and her lack of experience, she would have been a president better suited to the current context, I think that she would be worked constitutionally. From Igor Dodon I expect negative surprises, but I am sure that the Government and the parliamentary majority will give him the right answers and would not allow him to do what he wants with the country, we will find the right formula to keep him within constitutional boundaries. He must realize that he is the President of Moldova, not just to the 28% of voters from the country. We will respect the vote given by his voters, he won with a significant difference, the elections have been recognized as legal and correct by the foreign observers, but we will act in the interest of the entire country. 

Reporter: How do you comment the reserved reactions of the Western partners towards the Igor Dodon's victory and how intends PD to ensure the American and European officials of continuity of Moldova's European course?

Marian Lupu: The Western partners, as well as we, wanted a pro European president. It is natural to be reserved. But they understand very well that the constitutional prerogatives of the president, know that the strategic line is given by the Parliament and implemented by the Government, so they have no reason to be concerned about Moldova's European integration. We are in active communication with external partners, with their support we will continue the reforms and we will focus on and modernization of the country. If we talk about PDM, to answer your question more directly, we will demonstrate through actions that our view remains a pro-European, not only with verbal assurances. We do not forget that we are a parliamentary political system, where the major prerogatives are attributed to the Government and the Parliament and in this way, the PDM, together with the development partners, will ensure further the European integration path in the interests of Moldovan citizens.

Reporter: Why did you not go to vote in the first round?

Marian Lupu: From the above discussed, the answer is obvious. How they reacted to my gesture of withdrawal, their hysteria towards some, determined me to avoid the exposure to the public on Election Day, not to give grounds for all kinds of new interpretations and hysteria. I thought that this is how things will calm down better and our electorate will focus on the real choice that it has to do.