Moldovan president shares Moldova lessons in defending democracy with MEPs

The lessons learned by Moldova in defending democracy, which has been on the "hybrid front line" for 34 years, can guide the protection of fragile democracies in Europe. President Maia Sandu has made statements to this effect in her speech at the European Parliament today. The head of state was applauded for minutes by members of the European Parliament for her advocacy of democratic resilience.

"In the last three decades, Moldova has built and maintained a vibrant democracy. Fragile, yes. But resilient. We have gone through a Russia-fueled separatist conflict, economic collapse, energy blackmail, trade embargoes, and even a banking fraud that shook our state's foundations. Each crisis could have brought us down. But democracy stood firm. When democracy was in danger, people took to the streets. When oligarchs tried to capture the state, we resisted. And when power changed - it changed peacefully, at the ballot box. Unlike parts of the former Soviet Union, Moldova has not become an autocracy. We have kept pluralism. We have protected free elections. We have remained unyielding in what we are: Europeans," the president said.

 





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The head of state provided five essential lessons for defending democracies learned from Moldova's experience:

Cut off dirty money and safeguard elections

"Illicit money is the lifeblood of malign foreign influence. If we don't stop it, any other form of defense is compromised. In particular, the elections must be protected, and manipulation of information - closely monitored."

Build resilience

"Resilience means energy security, interconnected infrastructure and integrated markets. It also means a democracy that provides jobs, justice and opportunities for all."

Involve citizens and win the ideological battle

"Without people's support, no measure will succeed. Citizens must feel that democracy belongs to them."

Strengthen deterrence and coordination

"Hybrid threats always strike where they find weaknesses; Europe must unite its efforts and act swiftly."

Integrate and innovate

"Candidate countries must be included in defending democracy. We need new tools: quick digital expertise, AI labeling, joint cyber defense and new ways of citizens’ involvement."

 

Maia Sandu emphasized the importance of Moldova's accession to the European Union for strengthening democracy.

"The sooner we are in the European Union, a peace project in which no member state has waged war against another, the safer our democracy and people will be. That is why, we submitted the accession application just days after Russian tanks entered our neighborhood. We got the candidate country status and opened accession negotiations. We do not ask for shortcuts. We diligently do our homework. But for us, accession is more than a technocratic exercise. It's a race against time, in order to anchor our democracy in the European Union, where it will be protected from the greatest threat: Russia," Maia Sandu noted.

President Maia Sandu warned about the ways through which the Russian Federation attempts to influence the electoral process in the country, emphasizing that these interferences were not limited to election day.

"Interference does not start and end on voting day. It begins several months before and persists long after. Like a virus, it finds weaknesses and strikes," the head of state stressed.

According to Maia Sandu, Russia spent the equivalent of 1 per cent of Moldova's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year to influence the 2024 elections.

"Kremlin proxies fund protests, spread lies, fake emails, deepfakes and websites promoting Russian propaganda. Attacks target even government services and religion, parties, the Diaspora and judges become manipulation tools," the president specified.

Sandu emphasized that what is happening in Chisinau was just part of a broader plan by Moscow.

"This is not just Moldova's situation; schemes tested in Chisinau are then exported to other countries and the final target is Europe," she warned.

President Maia Sandu's speech was preceded by a strong message in support of European integration announced by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.