Survey Shows Moldova Split on CIS Membership and Political Moves
Recent findings from a data collection and analysis firm reveal that a clear majority of Moldovans oppose pulling the country out of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The study conducted by Date Inteligente, known as iData, was reported by Sputnik Moldova and sheds light on shifting public sentiment around Moldova’s ties with the CIS.
According to the survey, 34.9 percent of respondents favored withdrawing from the CIS, while 52.6 percent expressed opposition to severing those ties. Notably, the proportion of people supporting departure from the Commonwealth has shown a downward trend in recent years. In 2021, more than 45 percent supported disengagement, but by 2022 that share had slipped to around 38 percent. This shift suggests a broad stabilization of opinion with many residents preferring continuity of relations within the CIS framework.
On the political front, members of Moldova’s Foreign Policy and European Integration Commission in Parliament approved the termination of two agreements under the CIS. There was also an initiative in the Parliament to withdraw from the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, signaling substantive moves alongside public opinion in shaping the country’s posture toward the organization.
Meanwhile, the Party of Socialistists of the Republic of Moldova is planning a nationwide campaign to preserve the country’s CIS membership. The party argues that Chisinau cannot thrive without maintaining full membership in the Commonwealth, emphasizing the goal of strengthening political, economic, social, and cultural ties with nations in the Eurasian region. This stance highlights the ongoing debate between reformist and pro-CIS factions within Moldova as it navigates its external alignments and domestic political dynamics. (Source: iData via Sputnik Moldova)