Unionist initiatives in the Republic of Moldova

A wave of unionism is sweeping the Republic of Moldova

Bogdan Matei, 19.03.2018, 14:04

The number of towns and villages in the Republic of Moldova where mayors and local councils have passed symbolic declarations of union with Romania has exceeded 120. The wave of declarations is also fuelled by the upcoming celebration of the union of Bessarabia with Romania on March 27, 1918 at the end of the Great War. The Soviet Union annexed Bessarabia in 1940 following an ultimatum, and modern-day Moldova was created over part of Bessarabia’s territory. On Saturday, unionist mayors were guests of honor at an event in Buzau, south-eastern Romania.

Here is Buzau mayor, Social-Democrat Constantin Toma with more details: “We have a living history we share, and I hope things will turn out well. Let us hope we will continue what the brave people in Moldova started and that no one will stop us”.

Vladimir Susarenco, the mayor of Sadova village in Moldova, which is the birthplace of the incumbent president Igor Dodon, said the following: “I have held consultations in my village and noticed that a total of 600 signatures had been gathered, so I decided to sign the declaration of union, albeit symbolic. It is a declaration of the people, of my fellow villagers. I’m happy history is being written here today, not from the top down, but from the bottom up. Eventually, justice will prevail, as justice is like truth, it eventually comes out. It’s good to be home”.

On Sunday, mayors also talked to leaders of the opposition in the Romanian Parliament. National Liberal Party leader Ludovic Orban says that the union will happen when the majority of Moldovan citizens demand it.

Ludovic Orban: “I’m confident Romania is ready for this union. We are constantly talking to the elected officials of the National Liberal Party to continue our efforts to tighten cooperation with villages in the Republic of Moldova, by means of joint programs at the level of town halls and county councils”.

The president of the Save Romania Union, Dan Barna, said that union could be rather achieved at EU level: “The point of view I have conveyed to my colleagues and friends who were in Bucharest today is that Romania sees closer relations with the Republic of Moldova in a European context, because we honestly think Romania and Moldova belong to a modern European Union with the kind of democracy we all cherish and that Moldova desperately needs right now”.

On Sunday, unionist leaders are expected to convene in Chisinau as part of a big rally marking the Union Centennial Anniversary. Organized by NGOs from Romania, Moldova and the Diaspora, the rally is aimed at reasserting the idea that the union is the only way to restore the historical truth, to join the EU and NATO and to ensure freedom and prosperity for the Moldovan citizens.