Maia Sandu: Without a pro-European majority in Parliament, we risk missing the historic chance to join the EU
The stakes of the September 28 election are critical for the political direction of the Republic of Moldova. President Maia Sandu argues that only a pro-European parliamentary majority can ensure the country's ongoing integration into the European Union (EU). She notes that the political class in Moldova faces issues regarding credibility, integrity, and transparent financing. Additionally, Sandu warns that left-wing parties, which are supported by the Kremlin, pose a threat to democracy and jeopardize European financial assistance.
“The situation is not ideal. We have very few formations that can truly be considered political parties in the full sense of the term – ones that respect the law, are financed transparently, and work for the benefit of the state. The more genuine political parties we have, the stronger democracy will be. Currently, we have the PAS party and a few smaller parties that support the European course. The issue is that they lack sufficient backing,” Maia Sandu stated in an interview with NewsMaker on the evening of July 29.
The president cautioned that the Republic of Moldova risks missing its historic opportunity to join the EU if pro-European parties do not secure a parliamentary majority.
“It would be much easier if there were real partners who could cross the electoral threshold in Parliament. I don’t see any feasible coalitions. If PAS wins a parliamentary majority, we can continue on the European path. However, if PAS does not win, we risk losing everything we have achieved so far – democracy, our future, and the financial support that the EU provides for our development,” Sandu emphasized.
In this context, she criticized left-wing parties for not acting in the country’s interests and indicated her willingness to provide guidance to ensure that electoral lists do not include “traitors to the country.” Instead, they should feature “patriots, honest individuals, and skilled professionals.”
“Looking to the left, I see no genuine political parties. It’s merely a group of individuals supported by the Kremlin. I doubt that the leaders of these left-wing parties genuinely believe in their ideologies. Instead, they cater to citizens to secure funding from the Kremlin, as they have done in the past,” the president explained.
Sandu believes that a realistic deadline for concluding the negotiations for Moldova's EU accession and ratifying the relevant documents with all member states is 2028.
“If we complete the negotiations by the end of 2027, this goal is attainable. It will be challenging, but it’s possible to synchronize with Montenegro, which plans to finalize this process in 2027. We could also manage to ratify by 2028, marking the point at which the official process will begin,” Sandu projected.
