In an interview with www.tribuna.md, Irina Vlah, the newly elected leader of the Republican Party Heart of Moldova, spoke about the reasons behind establishing this new political force, its identity and positioning on the political stage, its goals, and other important aspects.

T: Ms. Vlah, the founding congress of the Republican Party Heart of Moldova took place on Saturday. What underlay the decision to create a new political force?

I.V.: Right after the presidential elections, in which I participated as an independent candidate, I began extensive consultations with citizens to determine the best path forward. I believed this approach was the right one because, even during the presidential campaign, I ran on an electoral platform inspired by the people and discussed with them in detail. The significant support I received in the elections proved that the program and solutions I proposed resonated with many of our citizens.

During the consultations, I visited many localities, particularly those where I had received significant support in the elections. Everywhere I went, I was welcomed with warmth, and people openly expressed that the path started during the presidential campaign should be continued. In response to these expectations, my colleagues and I began working on launching a new political project.

It is already clear that the Republican Party Heart of Moldova has strong support from citizens, as they were the ones who inspired us to create it. We have a moral obligation to justify their trust and demonstrate that a different kind of politics is possible in Moldova—a politics that prioritizes the interests of citizens, focuses on solving real problems, and promotes harmonious development of the country. Moldova has the potential to become a thriving and prosperous nation, and we are determined to make this a reality!

T: What political identity has the Republican Party Heart of Moldova chosen?

I.V.: The political identity of our party was determined by the outcomes of our meetings with the people. Heart of Moldova has adopted conservatism as its core doctrine. I firmly believe this will allow us to create a platform that resonates with the majority of Moldovan citizens. We stand for the preservation and promotion of family values, faith, and traditions – values that have always been, are, and will remain sacred to our people.

Additionally, following consultations with residents, we chose a center-left orientation. This part of the political spectrum aligns most closely with the timeless values of our nation. We are committed to representing their interests with integrity and doing everything possible to preserve, promote, and advance these ideals. However, our mission goes beyond representing citizens’ interests—we aim to continue advocating for the principles and values on which our party is founded, making them appealing to as many people as possible. We aim to grow and expand because we believe that by upholding and promoting the enduring values of our people, the citizens of Moldova can preserve their identity and ensure the harmonious development of our society. By pursuing these goals, we aspire to become a party with broad popular support. This has been our primary objective since the formation of the initiative group to establish the party.

T: How do you see the future relationship between your party and other political forces in Moldova?

I.V.: Considering our position, which I mentioned earlier, and the goals we have set, it is clear that our emergence will not be welcomed by many Moldovan politicians. Personally, I expect attacks from both the right and the left. This is not surprising, as the creation of a party like Heart of Moldova is unlikely to please those who have turned politics into a tool for achieving personal goals. We will be a thorn in their side because we will disrupt their plans, which are based on narrow party or even personal interests.

For them, Moldovan citizens are merely voters whose support is needed to fulfill their agendas. For us, citizens are, first and foremost, people who deserve a better life. For them, Moldova is a temporary stop for pursuing immediate interests. For us, Moldova is our homeland, where we want to live, build, and thrive. Therefore, we are deeply committed to its development and to ensuring a high standard of living for its citizens.

We will be seen as a major adversary by many. They will declare war on us, but the more intense their attacks, the stronger we will become. We can withstand this pressure and respond with dignity to every challenge. We already proved this during the presidential elections, when our team faced the highest number of attacks. We were targeted by both the authorities and the so-called opposition. Yet, we stood firm. I am confident we will overcome future challenges just as successfully!

T: Has the mission of Heart of Moldova in politics already been defined?

I.V.: The Republican Party Heart of Moldova was founded at a challenging time for our country. Today, as many have lost faith in the future, it is our responsibility to demonstrate that the Republic of Moldova still has potential and can develop. We believe our nation can, in the near future, become strong and successful in every respect. We have identified the core issues and know what needs to be done to save the country. We will strive for power, but for us,  power is not, and will never be, an end in itself. We need power to implement our program—a program that can genuinely save the Republic of Moldova and ensure its development.

Let me outline the main objectives of our program: ensuring peace as an absolute priority; addressing the demographic crisis; transitioning from dictatorship to democracy; adopting a balanced foreign policy based on the real interests of the Republic of Moldova; establishing an independent and professional judicial system; fighting corruption effectively; building an investment-driven economy supported by clear and incentivizing regulations; creating an efficient social protection system; introducing new approaches in healthcare, education, and culture; promoting meaningful decentralization and autonomy for local authorities; and resolving the Transnistrian issue.

Each of these areas includes specific actions that will be implemented after the parliamentary elections. We have the vision, the expertise, and the determination to save the Republic of Moldova.  Our country can and must be saved, and we are committed to making that a reality.

T: What are your party’s plans for the near future?

I.V.: Immediately after the official registration of the Republican Party Heart of Moldova, we will begin forming extensive party structures. Our goal is to establish a broad, functional, and effective organizational framework. This process must be completed as quickly as possible, as the 2025 parliamentary elections will be our first serious political challenge. We will prepare thoroughly for these elections because their outcome will have a decisive impact on Moldova’s future.

The upcoming parliamentary elections must lay the foundation for Moldova’s return to normalcy, with the Republican Party Heart of Moldova playing a pivotal role in this process. Today, Moldova stands on the brink of disaster—we are the poorest country in Europe, leading in depopulation. The country is drowning in debt, with national debt exceeding 110 billion lei. The economy is shattered, investors are avoiding Moldova, and those who once operated here are increasingly relocating to other countries. The justice system is non-functional, local autonomy is virtually nonexistent, fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens are disregarded, the independent press is almost extinct, and dictatorship is gaining strength. Society is divided by artificial criteria, and people are pushed into conflicts created solely to serve political agendas. In short, the country is in complete chaos!

In these circumstances, our new party has an incredibly important mission. We must restore people’s confidence in the future and convince them that not everything is lost. By uniting our efforts, we can save our country. We will engage with the public, presenting a program based on real problems and practical solutions. We will consult with citizens on the necessary measures to rescue Moldova. Once again, we will call for unity and solidarity. I am confident that together we will achieve a remarkable transformation—we will return the country to its citizens, lead it out of crisis, ensure its development, and transform Moldova we will transform it into a place of heaven, as it is rightfully meant to be!