Moldovan president, at Venice Commission's anniversary, says transparency, accountability, political freedom must be redefined

Defending democracy has never been more challenging, complex, and urgent. This was the central message by President Maia Sandu at the event marking the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, an institution dedicated to strengthening the rule of law and democracy in Europe.

In her speech, the head of state warned that modern democracies faced a new generation of threats - hybrid warfare, illicit financing and digital manipulation - which undermine democratic freedoms, using the very principles that define them.

"The rights that give it strength, freedom of association, assembly, expression, belief, and free movement of capital have all become entry points for manipulation," said the president.

Maia Sandu spoke about how these attacks had manifested themselves in the recent elections in Moldova: parties founded overnight and funded by the Kremlin, troll networks with tens of millions of views and paid protests.

"If we follow the money flow, the demarcation line between genuine democracy and malignant interference becomes clear," emphasized the Moldovan president.

The head of state noted that defending democracy in the parliamentary elections had been possible due to the coordinated action of state institutions, the role of civil society and the involvement of the free press.

State institutions played a decisive role in defending democracy, acting in coordination, in order to block illegal financing, monitor hidden money flows in cryptocurrency networks and prevent attempts of electoral sabotage. Authorities also intervened to dismantle groups involved in vote buying, counter misinformation campaigns and publicly expose external sources of influence. Through quick response and close cooperation, law- enforcement, justice and security institutions managed to limit the effects of these attacks and protect the integrity of the democratic process.

"Moldovans - supported by state institutions, civil society and the free press — defended their right to choose. They voted for democracy, for Europe and for peace," said Maia Sandu.

The Moldovan president called for strengthening European cooperation, in order to develop legal and institutional tools capable of responding to new forms of interference and political corruption, including in the digital environment.

"We must redefine transparency, accountability, and political freedom in a world where money, technology and disinformation move faster than the law," the president stressed. The head of state also emphasized that these measures must extend into the digital sphere, where social networks play a disproportionate role in influencing public debate — they must provide real access to data, disclose the extent and sources of artificial amplification, and be subject to independent audits of content moderation and political advertising practices.

In conclusion, the president reaffirmed Moldova's commitment to share its experience with other states and to work alongside the Venice Commission, in order to adapt the democratic framework to new challenges.

"Defending democracy today is not a national project, but a collective one. Moldova is ready to share what it has learned — our successes, mistakes and ongoing struggles — with any democracy facing similar dangers," concluded President Maia Sandu.

Also, on the sidelines of the event, President Maia Sandu had meetings with  Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset and President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Marc Cools. The discussions focused on strengthening mechanisms to protect democracies, adapting European legislation to new technological and security realities and deepening cooperation between central and local authorities.

The Venice Commission, formally known as the European Commission for Democracy through Law, is an advisory body of the Council of Europe, specializing in constitutional law. It was established in 1990 after the fall of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe, in order to support new democracies in drafting constitutions and a legal framework respecting the principles of the rule of law, democracy and human rights.

The Commission is based in Venice, Italy, and its membership includes independent constitutional law experts from over 60 member states, including Moldova.