One third of the population is ‘nostalgic’ for the Soviet period and wants to go back to that period. Film director Sergiu Prodan considers that these are persons disappointed by the fact that the statehood supporters could not explain the necessity of the existence of this state during the 25 years of statehood, while these held power. The opinion was stated in the public debate “Unionists, statehood supporters and ‘nostalgic people’: confrontation of ideas about the right and capacity of the Republic of Moldova to be an independent state” that was staged by IPN and Radio Moldova.
“I do not identify myself with the current of ‘nostalgic people’. During 25 years, we have seen the same permanent nostalgia. Someone is nostalgic for the USSR, while others are nostalgic for the Great Romania. There could be also persons nostalgic for the Russian Empire. But nostalgia is a human state that should be encouraged in parts. I will try to characterize those 36% of persons who say that they are nostalgic for the USSR and would like to return to it,” stated the film director.
During the 25 years of independence, the power in Moldova was held by the statehood promoters and these could struggle for an independent state. Not the unionists or the nostalgic people achieved their ideas. “I think that 25 years are enough for making society aware of the country idea and of the political and social project. Those 36% that want back in the USSR are disappointed persons who could not be motivated by this idea. In these 25 years of statehood, we didn’t manage to give a clear meaning to our existence as an independent state,” stated Sergiu Prodan.
According to him, there is now no clear offer on the part of the statehood supporters or on the part of the unionists who could explain the meaning of the existence of this state. “Today, regretfully, we do not have a clear offer on the part of the political philosophers who would explain the direction we should follow and society is confused. We ascertain considerable disappointment and I, as the representative of civil society, consider that the ethnic elites should show initiative and establish dialogue and should not leave the interethnic relations in the hands of others, in particular of the politicians,” he said.
Speaking about unionism, Sergiu Prodan said unionist politicianism says what we, those from Moldova, can do to obtain the right to become citizens of Romania. “It’s not the case to remember history, the year 1940, when this territory was conceded without gunfire. We speak about the current unionists, who formed a current and provide a societal organization option. The fact that the government in Bucharest or the great powers do not welcome the unionist idea does not mean that this idea can or cannot exist. It is a view and this should be taken into account. A national idea is the most expensive thing of a nation,” he stated.
He noted that these 25 years showed that those who promoted the idea of a sovereign and independent state wasted time as this state didn’t obtain not only a national idea, but also the instruments needed for it to function.
The public debate “Unionists, statehood supporters and ‘nostalgic people”: confrontation of ideas about the right and capacity of the Republic of Moldova to be an independent state” is the 59th installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates”, produced with the assistance of the German Foundation “Hanns Seidel”.
