On the eve of Independence Day, TRIBUNA is publishing a series of materials under the heading “35 Years of Independence.” Igor Dodon, leader of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova and former President of the Republic of Moldova, accepted our invitation and stated the following:

The Republic of Moldova at 35

We have a country that has withstood many challenges and hardships, some from outside and others stemming from domestic politics. As a country and a people, we have managed to preserve our identity and statehood. As early as the 1990s, some believed that we would disintegrate or give up our status as a state, but we were fortunate to have statesmanlike and patriotic politicians, while the people’s voice remained firm and rejected scenarios that would have led to the country’s dissolution. To this day, the absolute majority of citizens support preserving Moldovan statehood and strengthening our sovereignty.

Today, we must also overcome the difficult period under the current PAS government, which is considering unification with Romania as a Plan B. After more than 30 years, this is the gravest betrayal of national interests and a direct challenge to the Constitution. And if we successfully overcome the schemes of this allegedly treacherous government, I am convinced that the Republic of Moldova has a very promising future as an independent and prosperous state.

The greatest achievements

I believe that the country experienced its strongest rates of economic growth and social development during the first two decades of this century, from 2001 to 2020. During that period, civil society developed, healthcare, education, agriculture and the business environment were modernized, the media landscape diversified, churches and monasteries were renovated, thousands of kilometres of roads were repaired, new buildings were constructed, and we had low gas and electricity tariffs. There was also considerable freedom. Citizens’ incomes were steadily increasing. People trusted state institutions. Moldovans felt that the state was functioning well, even though they were sometimes disappointed with politicians.

The greatest challenges. What divides society

Over the past five or six years, the situation has deteriorated on all fronts, and the greatest risk is the loss of citizens’ trust in the state. This loss of trust represents a major risk for us as a society. The authorities are no longer considered competent, responsible or honest. People are afraid of the state, feel robbed, and no longer see it as a protector or guarantor of a comfortable social life.

Even worse, the current political leadership and its supporters have created an atmosphere of hatred and hostility in society, promoting media lynching and intimidation of all voices expressing a different point of view. Moldovan society is being destroyed at the level of its moral core and national unity. In the future, when governments change, we will still have to determine whether what the PAS government has done was a political crime committed out of incompetence or a deliberate crime against the people, carried out with malicious intent and at the direction of foreign sponsors.

The future of the Republic of Moldova: What will it look like in 10 years?

Perhaps what I am about to say will surprise you, but we will be able to discuss the future of the Republic of Moldova with greater clarity after the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. If the PAS government remains in power for another term, I fear that our country will be abolished. That is why society must mobilize to save Moldova, the state, the national economy, Moldovan identity and sovereignty.

What I am proud of and what I would tell a foreigner first when they ask about Moldova

We have a warm-hearted and understanding people, with centuries-old traditions and Christian values, with great skill in cultivating orchards and vineyards, and with the political and social capacity to resolve interethnic tensions—tensions that in other places have led to prolonged wars and the breakup of states. We are a peaceful and hardworking people who know how to earn our own bread and do not seek to take what belongs to others.

A message to the Republic of Moldova and its citizens

Put your hope and your future in the country, not in politicians. Invest in the country’s future through the way you think and act, the way you behave during elections, and the way you work for your native land and its continuity. With such an approach, you will not go wrong. Politicians come and go, but the country must be protected so that it will always exist—for those living today and for generations to come.