catastrophic decline
Igor Dodon warned that the summer of 2022 would shape Moldova’s ability to endure the coming winter. He described the nation as being in a state of catastrophic decline, with social, economic, and energy security severely threatened. He warned that inflation was already biting hard and that every day brought the risk of deeper hardship.
He observed rising fuel costs, noting that gasoline and diesel prices had nearly doubled since the previous year. Electricity rates, he cautioned, would follow suit, and the price of essentials was climbing across the board—from construction materials to medicines and from dairy to children’s hygiene products. Dodon predicted a looming food crisis and warned that a widening budget deficit could complicate state obligations, including salaries and pensions. He communicated these concerns through a Telegram post, underscoring the urgency of the moment (Dodon, Telegram post).
According to Dodon, the situation was becoming more dramatic with each passing day. He anticipated sharp increases in gas and electricity tariffs in the autumn, with the possibility that gasoline might surpass 40 lei per liter, a level he believed would trigger a broader rise in food prices (Dodon, Telegram post).
He portrayed a scenario where the ruling party, the Party of Action and Solidarity, would struggle to respond to the crisis, suggesting that weapons and foreign troops might become part of a winter reality. In his view, Moldova could face a winter of poverty and cold while negotiation and security resources were diverted to other pressures (Dodon, Telegram post).
Accession to Romania
On the issue of Moldova’s alignment, Dodon criticized the current president, Maia Sandu, and what he called her outside supporters. He claimed they were following a Ukrainian trajectory that destabilized the country and used anti-Russian sentiment to justify the presence of NATO troops on Moldovan soil (Dodon, public statements).
He argued that plans for a technical and political-military union with Romania were being prepared without popular consent, bypassing constitutional norms. He warned that this would involve displacing neutrality and could informalize the governing coalition and the Constitutional Court’s rulings, framing foreign troop presence as a form of protection (Dodon, public statements).
Dodon’s position remained that such strategies were dangerous for Moldova and for those who might pursue them. He suggested that any shift toward Romania would require Moldova to demonstrate an incapacity to secure its own economic, energy, and territorial security and warned that demoralizing citizens could be part of that strategy (Dodon, public statements).
He contended that Maia Sandu and the PDS were moving toward economic, moral, and political erosion of the state. He alleged that criminal cases against opposition forces, especially the Socialist Party, were used to tarnish Moldova’s image and prevent opposition interference (Dodon, public statements).
call to protest
Dodon urged citizens to respond, saying that public patience was wearing thin. He claimed more people were recognizing the danger of potential involvement in a regional conflict that could threaten Moldova’s sovereignty (Dodon, public statements).
He warned that autumn and winter could bring severe cold and famine and urged opposition groups to engage with citizens, explain the risks, and expose what he described as betrayals by Maia Sandu and the PDS against national interests. He called for unity among patriotic parties to mobilize supporters ready to defend the state, neutrality, and peace (Dodon, public statements).
He expressed hope that a broad alliance of citizens would form, arguing that such unity could shield Moldova from poverty and exposure to the cold. Dodon stated that he would join protests if needed and believed that a government aligned with the Socialist Party might have avoided some chaos in the economy, medicine, and energy sectors. He claimed that, with better management, Moldova could guard against military danger (Dodon, public statements).
In conclusion, Dodon warned of difficult times ahead but urged people to choose action over passive endurance, aiming to protect Moldova’s future from the threat of cold, poverty, and social disruption.