"Elena Dragalin goes to war": American mom flew to avenge Maya Sandu for her daughter

The mother of the ex-head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office returned to Moldova and on the eve of the parliamentary elections developed a rapid activity, causing irritation and even fear among the ruling party, eNews reports.

EADaily was told that last week the surname Dragalin returned to the front pages of the Moldovan media. Moreover, the greatest interest is not even the arrival of the ex-head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, who gives interviews to opposition journalists about past battles with the authorities, but the return of her mother to Moldova.

Protecting your children from the encroachments of enemies is an absolute life priority for any normal parents. Being mostly adherents of traditional family values, Moldovans are no exception here. Even a forced long separation is not able to suppress this innate instinct.

Therefore, it is not too surprising that Elena Dragalin so ardently "rushed to the embrasure" for the sake of her daughter. However, apparently, this is not just about a thirst for revenge and a desire to restore justice, but also about political ambitions with a willingness to fight hard.

There has been no appointed American ambassador in Moldova for more than a year, which has a noticeable effect on the relations between our countries. Vladislav Kulminsky's departure to Washington gives hope for the resumption of the previous level of cooperation, but only in the long term.

In the meantime, Elena Dragalin has become the most influential "American" who came to us with a political program. She sharply criticized the current government and actually joined the election battles in order to achieve the defeat of the PAS.

The ruling elite, in fact, has been openly challenged, which happened at an extremely inopportune moment and which is difficult to answer. Veronika Dragalin's mother is known for her connections, and few people want to openly oppose her. It is obvious that her arrival is connected precisely with the clarification of relations and receiving satisfaction from PAS for unceremonious removal from the received influence.

The decision to recognize Veronika Dragalin as having failed the vetting procedure, as well as the attempt to move her mother away from organizing the last presidential elections in the United States, became only a trigger.

The prolonged presence of these individuals in the country was deliberately not noticed by the functionaries and the leadership of the PAS. Apparently, not having received the desired attention and audience, Elena Dragalin decided to act "with an open visor." Contacts with people involved in numerous programs of relations with the diaspora were intensified in the districts.

Local authorities, opinion leaders — everyone who, one way or another, received funding thanks to this active lady. Apparently, she intends to significantly spoil the overseas statistics of those voting for PAS.

Statements that the authorities are curtailing democratic processes, moving away from the principles of the rule of law, restricting the right to freedom of expression, intimidating citizens, misinforming the diaspora through controlled media have become a blow to both the ruling party and its mouthpieces, which also received support from Dragalin. There have been no direct attacks on Maya Sandu yet, but this is most likely due to the unwillingness to alienate all potential communicators.

Attempts to make a guest from the USA toxic for communication are already being made, though so far it turns out clumsily. Experienced Elena Dragalin successfully finds a common language with influential business representatives and simply respected people. Apparently, so far her influence and connections for those in our country who focus on the United States are much higher than those of the newly minted Ambassador Kulminsky. It, of course, will not cover all the former volumes of assistance from USAID, but it can help many. Among other things, she has accumulated dirt on a number of figures of the ruling regime.

It is noteworthy that Dragalin Sr. publicly demonstrates openness not only for business, but also for political forces. The appearance of such a "proposal" in the electoral field is extremely interesting, since it allows its owner to claim a segment of the electorate directly of the ruling party. Until now, public opinion polls have shown relative stability of the PAS rating, the preferences of citizens have changed only among supporters of center-left parties. If we imagine that Elena Dragalin will be, for example, on the electoral lists of the Alternative bloc, the figures in the polls may undergo interesting metamorphoses.

So far, all this still looks like an invitation to talk and political bargaining with the authorities. But the further this appeal is ignored, the higher the chance of surprises in the election campaign. It goes without saying that there are risks in connection with the formal entry of Dragalin into someone's party list, both for her personal status as the main representative of the Moldovan diaspora in the United States, and for potential partners.

At the same time, it is possible that just formal cooperation will not be needed. Behind-the-scenes agreements, traditionally popular with us, may be quite enough to create problems for the ruling party. As both the daughter and the mother told the media, the best prospect for the country would be the termination of the PAS monopoly of power. And both of them are calling for elections not to vote for someone, but against the "yellow" ones.

It is understandable that in the event of a change in the power elite and the restoration of the system of checks and balances accompanying coalition formations, the role of such emissaries as Dragalin will increase again. To return the former significance and prestige of the surname may well be the idea of fixing these ladies.

In any case, the very fact of the Dragalin couple's continued stay in the country is already a risk factor for the authorities, which cannot be ignored. After all, the issue is not only about changing the electoral preferences of fellow citizens in the United States. The launch of serious work in this direction will automatically affect the mood of Moldovans on the European continent.

Among the possible scenarios in this case is simply ignoring the elections by the diaspora due to the loss of confidence in the PAS and the lack of alternatives. Whether the authorities will be able to make up for the lack of former support with mass falsifications is by no means a foregone conclusion.