It is 25 years since the adoption of the linguistic legislation of Moldova, but the name of the official language of the state continues to cause controversy. Some call it ‘Romanian’, while others ‘Moldovan’. IPN asked representatives of the government coalition if it is now opportune to amend Article 13 of the Constitution so that Romanian is stipulated as the official language in the supreme law as well.
Deputy Head of Parliament Liliana Palihovici, who is a member of the Liberal-Democratic parliamentary faction, said she would support such an initiative and society will primarily agree with such an amendment to the supreme law. “Such a change should have been made during the current mandate, but we do not have time already,” she stated.
Liliana Palihovici noted that a people that does not know its history, does not know what language it speaks, does not know where it comes from and where it goes does not have a future. “I’m convinced that we have a future ad we must correct the mistakes made in the past. In any society there are people who do not accept other ideas and challenge them. But this does not mean that this should be an obstacle to restoring the truth,” said the MP.
Asked what would happen if Parliament had now the possibility and wish to enshrine Romanian as the official language in the Constitution, Valeriu Saharneanu, MP of the Liberal Reformist Party, said this would bring only peace and stability. “I would support such a modification and this way we would correct a lie introduced in the Constitution and would ensure peace, stability, and justice,” he stated.
Valeriu Saharneanu also said that if the next composition of the legislature is like the members of the Liberal Reformist Party, the Constitution will be amended. The Liberal Reformists assured that they will initiate such changes to the Constitution.
On other hand, Deputy Head of Parliament Sergiu Sarbu, of the Democratic Party, said it is not possible to gather 68 votes in favor of amending the supreme law in the current legislative body. Polls show most of the people of Moldova consider themselves Moldovans and that they speak the Moldovan language. If a relevant initiative was put forward, it would lead to the division of society. In the current situation, it’s hard to say if the country is able to cope with such division. The Democratic Party always respected the people’s option of deciding what language they speak and what nationality they are and does not want to speculate on these aspects as the people are not united in this respect.
On August 31, Moldova celebrates the Our Language Day. The Constitution provides that ‘Moldovan’ is the official language of Moldova, while the Declaration of Independence, which is the primary constitutional norm that prevails over the text of the supreme law, stipulates that Romanian is the official language.
