With regards to the situation in the Republic of Moldova, the European People’s Party (EPP) President, Joseph Daul, together with the President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Hans van Baalen, made a joint statement: “It is with increasing concern that the ALDE Party and the European People’s Party (EPP) continue to observe the deterioration of the rule of law and democratic standards in the Republic of Moldova. Instead of seeking to advance the country and its people along the road to prosperity, the Democratic Party (PDM), together with the Socialists (PSRM), spearheaded by their leader Plahotniuc, have chosen to strengthen autocracy.” “In recent months, the PDM-PSRM alliance has intensified its intimidation and harassment towards its pro-European political opponents after PDM-PSRM wilfully discarded the recommendations of the Venice Commission and changed the electoral system. The EPP and ALDE strongly denounce the use of selective justice to silence the opposition, as in the case of Dorin Chirtoacă, the Mayor of Chisinau and First Deputy Chairman of ALDE member party Partidul Liberal (PL).” “While we believe that any wrongdoing must be investigated and that those responsible must be brought to justice, we have major concerns and doubts that the Moldovan justice system, controlled by Plahotniuc and his PDM-PSRM alliance, will be able to ensure a transparent investigation, a fair trial or an impartial verdict.” “Quite the reverse, in fact: as evidenced by the decline in freedom of the press, the abuse of state institutions and the suppression of the civil society, the Moldovan government under Plahotniuc’s PDM-PSRM leadership has truly jeopardised some of the great achievements of the Moldovan people in recent years and has turned the country away from being the champion of the Eastern Partnership.” “Thus, the EPP and ALDE call on the EU institutions, including the European External Action Service, as well as on the Council of Europe, to immediately evaluate the decline of the rule of law and democratic standards in the Republic of Moldova, to stop any EU funding, to apply the strictest conditionality to any future financial assistance and to re-evaluate as soon as possible the EU-Moldova Association Agreement.”