President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu participated today, together with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset, in the opening of the High‑Level Conference on Social Rights – the European Social Charter, held in Chișinău, TRIBUNA reports.

In her address, the President emphasized that social rights are a fundamental pillar of democratic security. “In our country, experience has taught us that social rights are essential for the survival of democracy,” she stated.

She noted that in recent years Moldova has faced deliberate attempts to undermine democracy by exploiting social vulnerabilities. “These challenges are not only political, but also social — and they require social responses,” the President underlined. She also pointed out that this phenomenon is not unique to Moldova but affects the whole of Europe, where forces hostile to democracy capitalize on social discontent and inequality.

Referring to the recent challenges faced by the country, the President highlighted the impact of the war in the region, the energy crisis and rising inflation, all of which placed significant pressure on households. In this context, she stressed that protecting democracy has meant, directly, protecting citizens.

The President recalled that in recent years the authorities have acted to stabilize the economy and preserve purchasing power, including by increasing incomes — raising the minimum wage and the average pension — implementing energy‑bill compensation programs for the population, and expanding support for vulnerable families.

She also stressed that social protection must be accompanied by economic opportunities. In recent years, efforts have been made to encourage labour‑market participation and combat undeclared work, alongside investments in childcare services to enable parents — especially mothers — to remain in employment.

The President noted that these measures, though challenging given limited resources, have produced concrete results, reflected in Moldova’s improved standing in international rankings on democratic transformation. She highlighted the crucial role of international partners in supporting these efforts and expressed confidence that such cooperation will continue, contributing to Moldova’s European path.

Maia Sandu also emphasized the importance of protecting the social rights of Moldovan citizens living abroad, including through the conclusion of social‑security agreements with host countries.

In closing, the President reiterated that freedom must be felt tangibly in people’s daily lives — something possible only when citizens are protected and supported.

“Social rights are not a luxury; they are the foundation of democratic security, just like fundamental political rights. If we want to protect democracy, we must ensure that it delivers for everyone,” she concluded.

Today’s event takes place in the context of Moldova’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and brings together ministers, senior officials and experts from member states, as well as representatives of European institutions and civil society.