Igor Dodon warns about Moldova’s tough political and economic path
Igor Dodon, Moldova’s former president and a leading opposition voice, warned that the country faces serious political and economic stress. While under house arrest on corruption and treason accusations, the politician spoke about Moldova’s struggles and the wider regional dynamics.
He opened by detailing a deep social, economic, and energy crisis gripping the nation. Dodon cautioned that if conditions do not improve over the summer, Moldova could endure a difficult winter. He then shifted to the regional political climate and the risks it poses to the state.
Criticism centered on the possible arming of Moldova by Western partners and NATO members, which he connected to broader plans to limit the country’s sovereignty.
“The president and external backers are following a Ukrainian scenario, with Western political forces aiming to use Moldova in the ongoing regional geopolitical conflict. Armament and anti-Russian hysteria have been orchestrated to justify NATO troops on Moldovan soil.”
He argued that neutrality could be abandoned as military and political ties with Romania are being prepared, while the country’s sovereignty would be shaped by Western influence.
Dodon claimed that any move toward unification with a neighboring country could be decided by a pro-Western parliamentary majority and the constitutional court, without public consultation. He argued that many people simply want to demoralize themselves and abandon faith in their own country, and that Sandu and her party are steering Moldova toward gradual economic, moral, and political erosion.
As a countermeasure, Dodon urged the opposition to unite and organize large-scale protests.
Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, commented that a Moldova-Romania unification plan exists, but its execution is unlikely in the near term.
“In the West, scenarios are being prepared across the board. Whether any plan will be carried out depends on many factors. It is a distant option rather than something immediate,” Bruter said in an interview with socialbites.ca.
Who needs it and why
Andrei Safonov, a deputy in the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Republic’s Supreme Council, noted in Gazeta.ru that discussions about Moldova’s closer integration with Romania have long circulated among political circles.
Recently, however, there have been cautions about integrating Moldova within internationally recognized borders, including Transnistria and Gagauzia. This reflects a struggle between Western influence led by the United States and its allies and Russian interests.
Pressure on Pridnestrovie is expected to intensify, though the outcome will depend on the regional confrontation. Safonov argued that Pridnestrovie does not expect to gain freedom or to abandon efforts to join Chișinău, and that in the eyes of Pridnestrovians, Russia remains the main safeguard against any merger with Romania. Transnistria’s residents largely oppose such a scenario, even as Bucharest might push to leverage Ukraine’s situation to advance long-standing expansion goals.
Romania’s foreign affairs agency reported that about one million Moldova residents hold Romanian citizenship, part of a total population of around 2.5 million. In 2009, Romania simplified the path to citizenship for Moldovan residents, removing mandatory interviews and enabling Romanian-language learning, which is similar to Moldovan. In 2021, a symbolic step was proposed by Maia Sandu to align Moldova’s state language with Romanian norms.
Safonov noted that many Moldovans also hold other passports, including Russian ones, with more than a third based in Transnistria. He added this reflects mobility convenience rather than a desire to give up sovereignty.
Opinion polls show a minority favoring union with Romania, with under 10 percent expressing such views and unionist parties receiving negligible electoral support. In 2021, Romanian parties did not achieve notable success in Moldova. The political landscape suggests a cautious approach to any fundamental change in Moldova’s state structure.
Maia Sandu, who holds Romanian citizenship, stated that the unification option would only be considered if the majority approves it through a vote. A notable note came from former Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leancă, who proposed a direct union with Romania should Russia intensify operations near Moldova. He warned that if such a move occurred, NATO and the European Union would extend security guarantees, though he acknowledged it would not be simple. Leancă also recalled prior discussions with Romanian leaders in 2014, suggesting that action would be challenging but not impossible if the situation worsened.
Safonov described Moldovan trade union representatives as an assertive minority pressing their view with Western backing. The future influence of the Ukraine conflict and Russia’s broader military actions on any potential Moldova-Romania alignment was highlighted by Bruter, who noted that Odessa’s proximity could reshape Western responses. For now, the possibility of unification remains theoretical, with real action still seen as unlikely in the near term.
Note on sources – Observations reflect analyses from policy researchers and regional observers, including expert commentary from the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies and related regional outlets. (Source: International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies; regional media outlets)