Moldova President Sandu: Election is a 'warning' for Europe
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu has warned that the country’s 28 September parliamentary election should be seen as "a warning" for the whole of Europe.
Ms Sandu was speaking to reporters ahead of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 1-2 October.
"What happened in Moldova in the past few months, and especially in the final weeks before the election, could happen in any European country," she said. "We need to work together to combat illicit financing, to strengthen cybersecurity, and to fight disinformation."
Ms Sandu described the parliamentary vote as "a test for democracy under attack," but noted that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova successfully passed it.
She claimed the Moldovan government "managed to eliminate all or most of the Russian money that was intended for the illegal financing of political parties that were going to bribe voters."
Asked about the country’s EU accession timeline, Ms Sandu said Moldova must continue to advance on the European path and strengthen the resilience of state institutions.
"Moldovans have stated very clearly that they want to be part of the EU. This is a merit-based process. Both Moldova and Ukraine have fulfilled their commitments and are ready for the next steps," she added.
Referring to the goal of Moldova's accession to the EU by 2030, the President confirmed that it remains possible: "Yes, I believe it is, and we are determined to work very hard to make it happen."
The head of state is scheduled to give an address in the opening session and has bilateral and multilateral meetings with European leaders and heads of state and government on the sidelines of the summit.
The EPC Summit is hosted by Denmark, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. The platform was launched by France's President Emmanuel Macron in 2022 as a space for dialogue and political cooperation between EU member states and partner countries.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
