European Leaders Advocate for Moldova
“For our country, the best choice is to stand alongside France, Germany, Poland, and the other nations of our continent in the great family of peace — the European Union,” stated a Moldovan leader, emphasizing the importance of aligning with Europe.
Moldova, a nation of 2.4 million nestled between Romania and Ukraine, has become a focal point for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions. While Russia intensifies its military efforts in Ukraine, it employs hybrid tactics to exert control over Moldova, particularly through significant voter manipulation during elections.
This week, a high-profile delegation including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Moldova with the intention of reinforcing the country’s journey towards EU membership and highlighting alternatives to Russian influence.
“This is not just a visit, but a living connection between Europe and the Moldovan people,” asserted Jürgen Hardt, the foreign policy spokesperson for Germany’s ruling CDU party. “Never again will one of our allies stand alone in the face of Russian aggression.”
Moldova’s Political Landscape
Last year, President Maia Sandu won re-election by a narrow margin, following a vote tainted by allegations of manipulation, including reports of voters being bribed to support her Kremlin-friendly adversaries. Concurrently, a referendum on EU membership narrowly passed with 50.4 percent in favor and 49.6 percent opposed.
The backing of the approximately 250,000 Moldovans living abroad, many in EU member states, proved crucial to the liberal government’s support in both instances. Recently, Moldova’s National Security Adviser, Stanislav Secrieru, raised concerns regarding escalating disinformation campaigns targeting the diaspora and warned of potential disruptions at polling stations outside the country.
