President's message at first session of new Parliament elected on 28 September

Dear citizens,

Honorable members of Parliament,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We stand at the beginning of a new journey - in a newly elected Parliament to which the citizens have entrusted the country's fate for the next four years, but above all, entrusted the mission of preserving peace in Moldova.

This is a beginning that carries within it the hopes and trust of the people, as well as the duty to meet their expectations.

I would like us all to realize that the period we are going through is the most complicated since independence, and our responsibility towards the people is very significant.

Therefore, more than ever, Moldova needs unity and dedication. It needs each of those who, starting today, occupy a seat in this room, to fulfill the mandate with honor, good faith, and to act in the interest of the Republic of Moldova.

Peace is our most precious asset, and we all have a duty to the citizens to protect it.

It is a difficult mission - because the world is going through a period of tensions and profound uncertainties, and our country is facing hybrid attacks meant to divide, scare, and weaken us.

So at least now, in the eleventh hour, those who - for power and money - have been complicit in the hybrid war and served foreign interests must understand that devotion to the country is sacred.

I would like us all to understand that we can only defend peace if we continue to pursue foreign policy on the side of good. We Moldovans, who value traditions and Christian values, must always be on the side of peace.

We cannot allow our country to become a tool of the aggressor, to be used against other states.

Our solidarity with refugees from Ukraine, as well as our courage not to be intimidated by threats and to remain a pillar of stability in the region, have earned us appreciation and gratitude worldwide.

We need to further consolidate our relationships with peaceful countries, countries on whose support we can rely in times of need.

But peace does not just mean being free from war; it also means living in harmony with each other here at home - regardless of the language we speak, the ethnic community we belong to, the church we attend, or our political preferences.

We must not forget that behind every freely expressed vote in the last parliamentary elections, in Chișinău, Vulcănești, Drochia, or Taraclia, lie hopes for a better future for our children and grandchildren, and a peaceful and decent old age for our parents and grandparents, as well as the desire to lay a brick in the foundation of our common home, the Republic of Moldova.

Therefore, we owe thanks to all those who cast their vote, both at home and diaspora, thus showing that they care about Moldova.

Ladies and gentlemen,

A few weeks ago, our country went through tense elections, with many trials and challenges. We experienced a campaign where truth and lies, hope and fear were mixed.

A large part of these tensions was not accidental - they were fueled from outside by those who do not want a free and sovereign Moldova.

Despite these trials, Moldovans have chosen peace and development; they have chosen the European direction.

In the elections on September 28, 2025, we managed to defend our democracy through unprecedented mobilization of responsible institutions but also due to increased vigilance in society.

It is imperative to continue these efforts so that no other election can be threatened by dirty money or foreign influences as the one three weeks ago.

The phenomenon of vote-buying must be eradicated definitely, and responsible institutions must strengthen their capacity to protect elections in the coming years.

Because a democracy can only function on the basis of real pluralism, with authentic parties - not with structures that throw around dirty money left and right.

I stress that this is not about preventing the victory in elections of a legitimate and democratic opposition. But we can never allow the power in our country to be auctioned off - and seized by whoever can pay the most. We know what a captured state means, and I strongly believe that people do not want to return to those times.

The resilience of a democracy is measured not only by the strength of its institutions or legal framework but also by the capacity of people to recognize lies, reject manipulation, and remain united around the truth. It is also seen in a society's ability to discern between realistic and honest commitments on one side, and empty promises, illusions sold by those who rely on populism on the other hand.

I know that there are (in this hall) self-proclaimed defenders of democracy who have criticized the actions undertaken by the authorities to defend democracy from external interference, whether we speak of combating illegal financing, interventions in digital space, or excluding candidates with anti-national intentions.

Ladies and gentlemen,

For democracy and the rule of law to be functional, they must be like two sides of the same coin. Because citizens can only have trust in their state if the law is at the forefront and there is the certainty that those who break it - regardless of position, status, or wealth - are held accountable.

Therefore, it is important to successfully complete the justice reform. In this legislature, the vetting process must be completed - and guarantees for judges and prosecutors who fulfill their mission honestly must be strengthened.

At the same time, it is essential to prepare professionally and ethically those who will become future judges and prosecutors - starting from university, continuing with training at the National Institute of Justice, and until admission into the profession by the CSM and CSP.

Esteemed parliamentarians,

Despite our internal efforts, our peace, democracy, and sovereignty will not be fully protected until we complete the process of European integration. This is a truth confirmed by the experience of other states which, once they became members, became more stable, more secure, and more prosperous.

Now, after the majority of citizens' vote on September 28 - reiterating the will expressed in last year's referendum - the new Legislature is called to fulfill the objective inscribed in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova to bring the country into the European Union.

Therefore, I call on you to contribute to harmonizing the national legal framework with the European one and to assume a sustained pace of adopting the necessary normative acts to advance in the negotiation process so that during the legislature that begins today, the Accession Treaty to the European Union can be signed.

I urge the parties in the new Legislature to support, with loyalty and good faith, the process of European integration of the Republic of Moldova. Such a commitment would also be a sign of your attachment to the objective of profoundly modernizing our country.

A modernization that, in the near future, should include a territorial-administrative reform based on extensive public consultations, which will ensure the improvement of public services for citizens, including by fully exploiting the potential offered by European funds.

I believe we all realize that the coming years will be a test of strength for the state's institutions. More effort, more efficiency, and attracting more people will be needed not only for the implementation of the European agenda but also for managing the country's immediate development priorities.

Because the yield must be gathered every year. Because on every September 1st, tens of thousands of children step into our schools. Because people and companies need safe roads or quality public services, not only from the moment of joining the EU but also until then.

Furthermore, together with the next executive, we must work with even greater intensity to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and increase family incomes.

We know it is not an easy path. The war on our border continues to affect investor confidence and generate uncertainty. But beyond these external challenges, we also have internal obstacles that we must address with realism and determination: low labor productivity, lack of innovation, and low competitiveness in some sectors, and the need to continue strengthening the link between education and the labor market.

Let's not forget the difficulties facing agriculture. The water issue must become a national priority - and we will need serious investments in modern irrigation systems, as well as new technologies to face climate change with major effects on our country.

Also, I care very much about continuing the Afforestation Program because forests are the best shield protecting our air, soil, water, and, thus, the future.

Therefore, the coming years will be decisive for how the Republic of Moldova will look - and we all have the duty to contribute to building a modern European state, where our citizens will want to forge their destinies.

It is time to encourage more those who have left abroad to return home - valuable people with experience and energy, whom our country greatly needs.

In addition, citizens on the left bank of the Dniester must be able to access the labor market, move freely, and benefit from the protection that any person in our country enjoys. I urge us to be there for them, in parallel with peaceful efforts to resolve the Transnistrian conflict, which must include the definitive withdrawal of Russian troops from the region's territory.

Dear citizens,

Esteemed parliamentarians,

Distinguished guests,

I know that the road ahead demands effort, patience, and courage. But our country has proven, each time, that it knows how to rise, gather itself, and move forward.

The ability to be united around major national goals defines us as a nation.

Therefore, let's gather our forces with the diligent and honest people of our country, from North to South, from villages and cities, from the country and the diaspora.

For them and with them, we must work - people who have faced hardships, but who have not lost hope; who, after so many decades of uncertainty, deserve to know they will be able to live in a peaceful, free, fair, and prosperous country.

European integration is the path through which this dream will become a reality.

Let's work together - with faith - so Moldova becomes a home of peace and hope for all its citizens.

Good luck and - let's get to work!