President: Future of democracy depends on how we protect each person's ability to think independently

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu took part in an international conference - Media Literacy and Information Integrity: Building Resilience to Disinformation and FIMI in Europe, held in Chișinău, where she spoke about new threats to European democracies and the need to strengthen society’s resilience to information manipulation.

In her speech, the head of state stressed that Europe is undergoing a profound transformation in the nature of risks, highlighting the emergence of a new type of conflict – cognitive warfare. "It is a war that targets the way people think, what they believe and how they act," the President stated. This directly affects public trust and citizens’ ability to make free and informed decisions.

Maia Sandu pointed out that the Republic of Moldova has directly felt these pressures, including during recent electoral processes, when there were coordinated attempts to influence elections through disinformation, illegal funding and manipulation of the information space.

At the same time, the head of state drew attention to the fact that these threats did not disappear with the end of the elections, but have become more subtle and sophisticated. In this regard, the President noted that cognitive warfare is not a temporary episode, but a reality affecting the whole of Europe.

Maia Sandu evoked the direct link between information manipulation and Russia’s war against Ukraine, stressing that, in addition to military aggression, there are constant efforts to influence public perceptions, weaken support for the neighboring country and generate divisions within European societies. She also mentioned actions aimed at undermining trust in the need to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities and in the European Union’s enlargement process.

The President emphasized the need for institutions and the legal framework to adapt quickly to these challenges, welcoming the Council of Europe’s initiative to develop a legal instrument to combat external information manipulation and interference. "We must be able to act in time," the head of state noted.

Particular emphasis was placed on media and information literacy, which is essential for increasing society’s resilience. "In a cognitive war, the strength of a democracy also depends on its citizens’ ability to resist manipulation," Maia Sandu declared. The head of state referred especially to young people, who are the most exposed to the digital environment, but are also those who can contribute decisively to protecting democracy. At the same time, the President added that resilience is not enough; a proactive approach is also needed, based on clear, credible communication and the promotion of democratic values.

In conclusion, the head of state said that the current stake of cognitive warfare goes beyond electoral processes or the functioning of institutions; its essence is protecting each citizen’s ability to think freely. "Ultimately, the future of democracy depends on how we protect each person’s ability to think independently," Maia Sandu concluded.