C h i s i n a u / P r a g u e – The only evangelical politician in Moldova’s new parliament, the Baptist Valeriu Ghiletchi (Chisinau), has criticised the vote re-count following the controversial election held at the beginning of April. At a meeting of the European Baptist Federation’s (EBF) Executive Committee in Prague on 24 and 25 April, Ghiletchi told the European Baptist Press Service (EBPS) that only confirmation of the communist victory could be expected after President Vladimir Voronin himself proposed the vote re-count. In order for election results to be an accurate reflection of the democratic will, voter registration lists would have needed to be scrutinised. Ghiletchi believes the lists included names of some who are long-deceased, others voted twice and Moldovans living outside of the country also participated in the election, which was illegal. Only the communists profited from these deplorable practices. Ghiletchi campaigned as an independent aligned with the opposition Liberal Democrats. He expressed approval that the violent protests following the initial elections have ceased.

Imparting people with a national spirit, struggling against poverty
Ghiletchi sees the greatest challenges in imparting Moldovans with a unifying national spirit and in combating poverty. Historically, the country has been controlled either by Russia or Romania. Average income hovers at $100 US per month – considerably below the amount needed for simple survival. The communists had won the election by reminding voters of the full employment and the free-but-functioning health-care system present during Soviet times, and which their party now intends to re-install. But Ghiletchi countered: “Society has changed since then and the ‘good old times’ never did exist as we now understand them.” He recalled that people were spied upon during the Soviet era and that liberty and human rights had been trampled under foot. He expressed disappointment that many voters had proven to be “very forgetful”.

Transitioning from engineer to theologian and politician
Ghiletchi, who is 49 years old, had belonged to the Moldovan parliament from 1998 to 2001 as an independent supporting the now-defunct Party of Democratic Forces. He campaigned as an independent direct candidate in 2001. He achieved 2% of the votes nationally, but would have needed 3% in order to enter parliament. Ghiletchi worked initially as an engineer before being ordained a Baptist minister in 1996 following theological studies. He served for two terms as President of the Baptist Union, which consists of 470 congregations and 20.400 members. Before the most recent elections, Ghiletchi had resigned this position in order to enter politics. He relates that he had long consulted with spiritual friends and held the matter up to prayer before making the move. He had during this period of deliberation gained the assurance that God wanted him to become active in politics for the sake of the common good.

Ghiletchi is Vice-President of the EBF. He is scheduled to succeed the Croatian Toma Magda (Cakovec) as President in July for a two-year term. Fifty Baptist unions in Europe and the Middle East with a total of roughly 800.000 members belong to the EBF.