Intellectuals in the former Soviet Moldovan Republic played a crucial role in the success of the national liberation and renaissance movement, which culminated with the Declaration of Independence of Moldova. The opinion was voiced by Valentin Dolganiuc, political analyst and former MP in the first Parliament, at the “Place for Dialogue” talk-show on Radio Moldova, IPN reports.
According to him, a major contribution to obtaining independence was that of history and native language and literature teachers. “They worked hard and thanks to them the national renaissance movement spread to villages. It's sad that those men who obtained the independence of our country have been forgotten, many went abroad and many are left to spend their old age in miserable conditions”, said the analyst.
Dolganiuc stressed that Moldovan intellectuals suffered the most during their fight for keeping alive the national identity, “being persecuted, arrested, beaten, imprisoned in asylums”. The former MP admitted that “during the Soviet occupation, they may have not held up the torch, but at least they kept the candle alight”. According to him, they were really disappointed in 2001 when the Communists' Party came to power, who led an anti-national policy.
“Now its the moment to find a national idea that could unite us all, and this idea could be integration in the European Union”, concluded Dolganiuc.
Valentin Dolganiuc, renowned activist of the national liberation movement in the '90s, member in the first Parliament of Moldova, signed the Declaration of Independence. As deputy head of the Christian Democratic People's Party, who previously promoted national values, he retained his MP seat in three consecutive Legislatives. He then left the party. Dolganiuc was also deputy prime minister in the 2nd Ciubuc government. Over the years, the promoted the private agricultural sectors as leader of the Peasants' Association “Saint George”.
In 1994, he was one of the nine MPs who voted against the Constitution, most of them because of the provision that proclaims the official language to be “Moldovan”.
