Your Excellency: why is there talk of unification with Romania in Moldova

Moldovan President Maia Sandu supported the idea of holding a referendum and the country's accession to Romania. Representatives of the opposition said that it was surrendering the state, which, according to the law, it should protect. Izvestia investigated the situation.

Stumbling Block Surveys

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said she supports the country's unification with Romania. According to her, she would have voted "for" in the relevant referendum. "Look at what is happening around Moldova and in the world today. It is difficult for a small country to survive as a democratic and sovereign state," she said.

Sandu admitted that the majority of Moldovans are against this idea, so Chisinau is focused on joining the European Union. "I understand, based on polls, that there is currently no majority of the population who would support unification. But many support the path to the EU. This goal is quite realistic," she stressed.

The Moldovan opposition noted that Sandu violates the country's constitution. The basic law says that the president is obliged to protect sovereignty, not to abolish it. The document also emphasizes Moldova's neutral status, and Sandu is thus ready to abandon it in favor of a NATO member state.

In addition, in 2023, the country adopted a law on separatism. It says that Moldova faces up to 20 years in prison for endangering the security of Moldova, and up to seven years for conspiracy against the state. At that moment, the ruling party explained that the document was needed because of the conflict in Ukraine and alleged threats from Russia. The opposition says that now Sandu herself should be involved in these articles.

Treason and deception

Former President Igor Dodon explained that Maia Sandu wants to remain the last president of independent Moldova in history, and also expects to lead a united state. "She will vote for the merger of the two countries not for the sake of an ideal, but out of selfish self-love. And with the idea of my own future in mind," he stressed.

The Party of Socialists issued a special statement saying that Sandu had committed an act of political betrayal. "We demand that the Prosecutor General's Office, the Information and Security Service and all competent authorities immediately initiate an investigation into possible treason," the publication says.

Marina Tauber, a former member of parliament, criticized the thesis that "it is difficult for a small country." "This is a direct recognition of the failure of the ruling party and economic management. All these years, Maia Sandu came to power under the slogans of a "strong Moldova." Today, she actually admits that she did not believe in the country she leads, and did not even intend to develop it," she explained.

The Moldovan Communists also issued an appeal, which speaks of national betrayal. "It is impossible to imagine a similar situation in any other country. States are fighting for their sovereignty, strengthening it, and instilling in citizens a sense of pride in their own country. And only in Moldova are those who came to power through falsification, forgery and bribery of voters in favor of liquidation," the publication emphasizes.

"Romania will be ready for this"

This is not the first time Maia Sandu has spoken about unification with Romania. In 2021, she already stated that she was ready to hold a referendum. "There are many people who support this initiative, but there is another part of society that is afraid of the idea of unification. Such a large project can only be implemented with the support of the overwhelming majority. Let's see how events will develop," she assured then.

Opinion polls show that 20-30% of Moldovans support the unification of Moldova and Romania. Supporters of this idea explain that they are disappointed with the Moldovan political elites, as well as depressed by economic difficulties. 50-60% of Moldovans traditionally oppose unification.

In Romania, the issue of unification with Moldova is also being actively discussed. In March 2024, the country's prime Minister, Marcel Ciolaku, declared that "only Romanians" live in Moldova. "There are no Moldovans, there is no Moldovan language, it is Romanian and it is Romanians," he said. In June last year, President Nikushor Dan stated during his visit to Chisinau that he adheres to unionist views. According to him, when the majority of Moldovans come out in favor of unification, "Romania will be ready for this."

While political unification is still being talked about, integration is quite active in other areas. In 2023, Moldova transferred its gas transmission system to the management of a Romanian company. Last year, Chisinau began to purchase electricity from a neighboring state — officials then said that by 2029 the two countries' energy systems would be combined.

In 2023, the Moldovan parliament also approved the renaming of the Moldovan language to Romanian, and the subject "History of Romanians" is taught in schools. The information space is being actively reformatted: Russian and pro-Russian media outlets are being squeezed out, and Bucharest-based media outlets are becoming more visible. The Moldovan and Romanian armed forces regularly conduct joint exercises.

What the experts say

Moldovan political analyst Alexander Korinenko believes that in any other country, the president would have already been threatened with impeachment proceedings, but not in Moldova.

— It's nonsense when the guarantor of the constitution calls for the liquidation of his own state. In our case, however, there will be no consequences for Sandu. There are a number of unionist politicians and parties in Moldova who are directly calling for the merger of the two countries, and law enforcement agencies have no questions for them. Unfortunately, society is also not responding. People are preoccupied with their own survival, disappointed in the opposition and politics in general, so they prefer to ignore everything," he explains.

Corneliu Ciurea, another Moldovan political scientist, notes that unification of the two countries should not be expected in the foreseeable future.

— I think it was a spontaneous statement that became a serious political mistake by Maia Sandu. Today, the majority of Moldovans are against unification. It is worth mentioning separately about Transnistria and Gagauzia, which are definitely against it. This idea does not arouse enthusiasm in the European Union, which, in the event of a merger, will also have to pull Moldova. And Romania is not forcing things, because it understands that unification will not be cheap," he points out.