Moldova's 'pro-EU' president announces re-election bid

Moldova's pro-Western President Maia Sandu has announced she will run for re-election in 2024 and has called on the Moldovan parliament to hold a referendum on the small Southeast European country's possible membership of the European Union (EU).

“Our future lies within the European family and it is necessary to be clear which path we choose for Moldova,” Ms. Sandu said in a Facebook post and video on December 24 to mark Christmas.

“I call on the parliament to start holding a referendum next fall, where the voice of the people will be decisive,” Moldova’s first female president added.

On December 17, Ms. Sandu organized a pro-European rally in the capital Chisinau to celebrate what she described as a “historic step for the destiny of our country.” Moldova’s “pro-Western” Prime Minister , Dorin Recean, echoed President Sandu’s words that “Moldova is Europe” and “our future is in the EU.”

Previously, at the Leaders' Summit in Brussels on December 14, the EU announced its decision to open membership negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine, and to grant candidate status to Georgia.

Also on December 14, Ms. Sandu praised the Moldovan parliament's approval of a defense strategy that ties the small former Soviet state closely to the West, saying it was "a big step toward strengthening the security and stability of our country."

She added that the government’s goal was to transform Moldova – which has a population of around 3.5 million – from “a vulnerable country with a fragile democracy” into a “strong, modern, resilient European country capable of taking good care of its citizens”.

The current “pro-EU” government of Moldova, Europe’s poorest country that shares a border with Ukraine and EU-NATO member Romania, has condemned Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine and complied with about 78% of the restrictions and sanctions imposed on the Kremlin by the European Commission (EC).

European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen and Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Chisinau, May 31, 2023. Photo: Shutterstock

In comments on Christmas Eve on December 24, Ms. Sandu asked voters to support her for another presidential term in the election scheduled to take place in November 2024.

“We still have important steps to take and I promise to continue if you have confidence in the new term in 2024,” she said.

Ms. Maia Sandu, born in 1972, was an economist at the World Bank (WB). She also served as Prime Minister of Moldova.

This will be Ms. Sandu’s third run for president of Moldova. A poll earlier this month showed her support at around 30%, higher than the support of former pro-Russian President Igor Dodon (24%).

She was defeated by Mr Dodon in her first election in 2016. But in 2020, she won against him and has been President of Moldova ever since.

In a Facebook post on December 24, former Moldovan President Dodon criticized Sandu’s announcement, saying that “after three years in power, Maia Sandu has nothing to offer other than a referendum to save her from political drowning. She hopes to cooperate with Europe and this will give her a new mandate . ”

Minh Duc (According to RFE/RL, Le Monde)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/tong-thong-than-eu-cua-moldova-tuyen-bo-tai-tranh-cu-a642298.html