Language issue will disappear once the political class grows up, MPs

The language issue in Moldova is more of a topic for political debates than a real problem of society. It is mostly related to the name of the language and not to the way it is spoken. The opinion is shared by several parliamentarians who told Info-Prim Neo that the issue would disappear once the political class grew up [Head of the Liberal Democratic parliamentary group, Valeriu Strelet], says that there are several elements that have to be combined: the conduit of the political class, the correct and scientific name of the language, which is Romanian, and the change of generations and mentalities. “This problem regarding the correct name of the language will disappear when the generations born after 1990 take the stage. I think that in society this problem is sometimes intentionally fueled by superficial approaches directed towards certain ends. It’s an approach at the level of society that treats the subject with tolerance. The role of the political class is also important. If it sets the right example, society will follow it”, said the MP. [MP Igor Corman, deputy leader of the Democratic parliamentary group,] thinks there are no real doubts regarding the language spoken here, but the discussions about its name are highly politicized. “We must be tolerant and each should name it as he or she thinks adequate. We can’t and shouldn’t divide the country into two opposite camps because of this”, said the Democrat. Igor Corman deems necessary a common position of politicians, which they should communicate to the majority of the population, so that this topic didn’t divide society. “I think the next generations will find an answer to the question. We certainly speak the same language, although some call it Romanian, and others Moldovan. The language is the same and its name is just a political matter. You cannot condemn and exclude from society those who called it Moldovan or those who call it Romanian”, explained the legislator. [Liberal MP Valeriu Munteanu] says that after 21 years of independence, the first true redoubt has been that of the language. “There are still some adepts of Moldovenism and of the existence of the Moldovan language, but their numbers are dwindling. Less and less politicians share this view, which we are happy for, we who fought for the national values and for the historical belonging and unity of the Romanians on the two sides of the Prut River. It’s gladdening and we’ll never get tired of militating and bringing the truth in people’s houses”, said the MP. Valeriu Munteanu added that numerous scientists, specialists in the field, agree that the language spoken in Moldova is Romanian and the Moldovan language and nation are Soviet Stalinist absurdities. [Communist parliamentarian Sergiu Sarbu] claims that the uncertainty regarding the spoken language will disappear when the political class grows up and the people’s interests will be regarded above political interests. “This differences appeared together with nationalistic and unionist discussions, when these identity debates broke out. The citizens of Moldova don’t have such problems. In villages, their problems are about subsistence, not about the name of the language they speak”, said the Communist MP. Asked what language they spoke, AIE MPs said they spoke Romanian, while the PCRM lawmaker answered ‘Moldovan’. On August 31, Moldova celebrates the national holiday “Our Language”.