Moldovan president, at Venice Commission's anniversary, says tools must be designed to protect democracy from new threats

President Maia Sandu, at a today’s speech given on the occasion of the Venice Commission's anniversary, said that "defending democracy is no longer a national project, but a collective one", and countries must "redefine transparency, responsibility and political freedom in a world where money, technology and disinformation move faster than the law."

The president warned that modern democracies faced a new generation of threats - hybrid warfare, illicit funding and digital manipulation. In the context, she emphasized the importance of designing legal and institutional tools to protect democracy from these new threats.

"If authoritarian regimes learn faster than democracies can adapt, we will lose. We cannot afford to be slower than those who wish to destroy freedom. That is why I am addressing you - the Venice Commission - as guardians of democracy. For 35 years, you have contributed to building our legal foundations. Now they must be strengthened for a new era — to protect freedom for the next 35 years. Together, we must design the legal and institutional tools to protect democracy from the new threats. And we must do it quickly. We must redefine transparency, responsibility, and political freedom in a world where money, technology and disinformation move faster than the law," Maia Sandu said.

The president referred to foreign interference during the recent elections in Moldova and emphasized that "Moldovans - supported by state institutions, civil society, and the free press - defended their right to choose"

"Moldova is ready to share what it has learned — our successes, mistakes, and ongoing struggles — with any democracy facing similar dangers. Because today's defense of democracy is not a national project, but a collective one," the head of state said.

President Maia Sandu today participated in the ceremony dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Venice Commission. On the sidelines of the event, the head of state 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.