Vlad Filat, former Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, highlighted the case of Anatolie Petrov — born in 1963 and currently the only remaining resident of Tricolici, a village located roughly 50 km from Chișinău, 17 km from Căușeni, and just 2 km from a national road.

Filat pointed to this situation as an example of the severe depopulation affecting Moldovan rural communities. He recalled that he had previously appealed to President Maia Sandu, including through public statements, urging that the fight against depopulation be declared a top national priority. According to him, without serious discussion and concrete measures to slow down large‑scale migration, long‑term development becomes impossible.

He argued that Moldova cannot function — European or otherwise — without its people. Filat stated that, over more than five years of the current administration, the issue has not been addressed in a meaningful way by state institutions.

Filat also warned that the proposed local public administration reform could further worsen the situation for small villages, suggesting that many could face the same fate as Tricolici.

He called on the President and the governing party to treat the matter as one of national survival, urging them to engage in substantive consultations with local authorities and experts to design a reform that ensures functional, autonomous local administration capable of sustaining rural communities.

Filat concluded by saying that the case of Anatolie Petrov and the state of Tricolici should serve as a reminder that history ultimately judges leaders by the condition in which they leave the country.