The European Moldova National Assembly (Romanian: Adunarea Națională "Moldova Europeană") was a pro-European rally held on 21 May 2023 at the Great National Assembly Square in Chișinău, Moldova. It had approximately 100,000 participants and counted with the participation of the President of Moldova Maia Sandu, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and various Moldovan public figures. The Moldovan diaspora also took actions in support of the assembly. The most important resolutions of the assembly were a commitment to join the European Union (EU) by 2030, a consolidation of this project as a state objective of Moldova and a possible start of accession negotiations with the EU before the end of 2023.

History

Preparation

On 10 April 2023, President of Moldova Maia Sandu announced that a large pro-European rally was being organized to take place at the Great National Assembly Square in Chișinău, Moldova, on 21 May 2023. She said this was "to tell the world that we are Europeans" and to respond to "those who ask what do the Moldovans want".[1]

Day of the assembly

Approximately 100,000 people attended the assembly, double what the state authorities estimated. Sandu gave a speech during the assembly, saying that Moldova's goal would be to join the European Union (EU) by 2030. President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola also gave a speech, giving a message to assembly participants: Europa este Moldova! Moldova este Europa! ("Europe is Moldova! Moldova is Europe!"). After their speeches, artists, businessmen, composers, farmers and writers took the stage to talk about the advantages of joining the EU; this notably included Moldovan composer Eugen Doga.[2]

During the assembly, a resolution was voted and approved by its participants. It called for, among other things, enshrining Moldova's accession to the EU in the Constitution of Moldova, starting accession negotiations with the EU by the end of 2023 and expanding the international context of negotiations for the peaceful resolution of the Transnistria conflict. The participants of the assembly also called on the Moldovan political class to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and take a clear position against Russia, which started the war.[2]

Some members of the Moldovan diaspora mobilized on the day of the assembly and sent messages of solidarity to the assembly participants in Chișinău, with some even organizing protests in support of the assembly in large cities of some European states.[2]

Analysis

The rally may have been organized as a response to the pro-Russian and anti-Western protests organized by the opposition Șor Party that had been taking place for months by that point.[1] Governor of Gagauzia Irina Vlah said she believed that the rally was a strategy of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), the ruling party at the time, to increase its popularity, as it was in a difficult position at that moment according to her.[3]

Răzvan Foncea, a consultant for the Parliament of Romania, argued in an academic research study that Sandu's solid state project for Moldova, aimed at EU accession, accompanied by a strong diplomatic effort including public participation by the Moldovan society, was turning Moldova's vulnerabilities into strategic advantages and increasing Moldovan soft power within Europe. For this, factors such as the 2nd European Political Community Summit held in Bulboaca, Moldova, on 1 June 2023, or the cultural and political messages of the Moldovan songs selected for the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Eurovision Song Contest, would have been key. This would also include the European Moldova National Assembly, of which its participants would have taken the role of promoters and creators of the EU accession path and pro-European state project of Moldova.[4]

Reactions

Domestic

The Șor Party organized counter-protests to the assembly on the same day that it took place in various Moldovan towns, such as Bălți, Comrat and Orhei. Protesters called for a referendum on the orientation of Moldova's foreign policy.[5]

Vlah said that while she supported Moldova's accession to the EU, she was not in favor of the assembly. She criticized bringing so many people together while Moldova was in an official state of emergency and said that it would be better to put these efforts into issues such as improving the quality of life, pensions and salaries of the population.[3]

International

The Embassy of the United States in Chișinău released a message on the day of the assembly saying that "The U.S. Embassy is proud to support Moldova's European path". The American ambassador to Moldova, Kent D. Logsdon, who participated in the assembly as well, said he attended it "to demonstrate our commitment to working with the Republic of Moldova to build a democratic, prosperous and secure future".[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Mihăescu, Alexandru (10 April 2023). "Maia Sandu anunță organizarea unui mare miting pro-european la Chișinău pe 21 mai / Replică la mitingurile anti-occidentale organizate de partidul pro-rus Șor". G4 Media (in Romanian).
  2. 1 2 3 Călugăreanu, Vitalie (21 May 2023). "Miting pro-european cu o sută de mii de oameni la Chișinău" (in Romanian). Deutsche Welle.
  3. 1 2 Laur, Victoria (18 April 2023). "VIDEO Irina Vlah nu va participa la Adunarea Națională Moldova Europeană. De ce?" (in Romanian). Realitatea TV.
  4. ↑ Foncea, Răzvan (18 July 2023). "Republica Moldova, noua putere soft de pe harta Europei-Despre antreprenoriatul narativ al Maiei Sandu și noua diplomație a Chișinăului" (in Romanian). Digi24.
  5. ↑ "Partidul "Șor" a organizat contramanisfestații a Adunării Naționale Moldova Europeană". Ziarul de Gardă (in Romanian). 21 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Ambassador Kent D. Logsdon attended the European Moldova Assembly: "The US Embassy is proud to support Moldova's European course"". Ziarul de Gardă. 22 May 2023.
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