Moldovan president provides clarifications on eventual referendum on unification with Romania

The Moldovan head of state has given an honest answer regarding a possible referendum on unification with Romania and said she does not want Moldova to once again fall under Russian occupation. President Maia Sandu provided  clarifications on how she would vote, responding to questions from a French journalist during the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

“I gave an honest answer to a question. I am worried about the situation in my country. It is essential that Moldova is part of the free world. We do not want to fall again under the influence or occupation of Russia. We understand this very clearly and I want Moldova to be part of the free world,” said Maia Sandu, quoted by Digi24.ro.

Maia Sandu reiterated the firm commitment of the Moldovan authorities to the country’s European path and expressed hope that the European Union would remain consistent in its enlargement policy.

“I am fully committed to the European path of Moldova and I hope that the member states of the European Union will also remain devoted to the enlargement process. This is a matter of major importance for us and, yes, we are deeply concerned,” the head of state noted.

In the context, the Moldovan president underlined that the European integration process was merit-based, noting that both Moldova and Ukraine had fulfilled the necessary conditions for the formal opening of accession negotiations.

“Even though these negotiations have not yet been officially launched, we continue to work towards this goal. Given the merit-based nature of this process, we expect the European Union and its institutions to come forward with a clear and fair solution for the continuation of our European path,” Maia Sandu said.

In an interview with two British journalists, President Maia Sandu that she would vote “Yes” in a possible referendum on reunification with Romania. The head of state explained her choice through regional and global developments, which make the survival of countries like Moldova increasingly difficult. Under these circumstances, the EU accession becomes a realistic objective for protecting sovereignty, the president emphasized.

President Maia Sandu delivered a speech at PACE, in which she warned that Europe was currently facing two wars: a military one, waged by Russia against Ukraine, and a hybrid one, directed against European democracies. The president stressed that ensuring peace in Moldova was closely linked to Ukraine’s resilience. She warned that, in the absence of accountability for Russian aggression, there can be no lasting peace. Maia Sandu highlighted the essential role of the Council of Europe in this context, not as a neutral observer, but as a guarantor of democratic values and international law.