The executive director of the Institute for Strategic Initiatives Vladislav Kulminski said that at the referendum of October 20, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova will show how they see the further development of the country – as part of the European Union or within a “gray area”, as during the past 30 years. Since Independence, the country practically has seen stagnation. The choice is obvious and clear. It is important that absolutely every citizen should vote and the turnout at the polls should be unprecedented.
In the second edition of IPN’s public debate “Accession to the EU: Road to Security and Prosperity for the Republic of Moldova”, Vlad Kulminski said that this Sunday, the citizens will make a geopolitical choice, which will decide the fate of the country for decades to come. Currently, a geopolitical redistribution is taking place in the region. This will again be divided into spheres of influence. It is important that the citizens be asked where they see their country because this did not happen in the 30 years since Independence, which is not correct. Such a referendum should have been organized a long time ago.
In the expert's opinion, it is good that this referendum is taking place at this moment, because this geopolitical redistribution will continue for 2-3 years, then it will end. It is very important for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova to make an informed choice. And this is because, before the war started by Russia in Ukraine, Moldova could afford to “sit on two chairs”, not to make a clear choice. But with the outbreak of the war against Ukraine, this option no longer exists. The fight for the so-called “gray areas” is no longer based on economic and political means, but is conducted through war.
According to him, history shows that it is precisely in the “gray areas”, which do not have a clear option and try to “sit on two chairs”, that such confrontations take place and lead to war. The Republic of Moldova must avoid such situations. That is why the citizens have to make this choice.
In another development, the director of the Institute for Strategic Initiatives said that the citizens are less interested in formal and technical things, including the adjustment of national legislation to the European one. In order to make an informed choice, the Moldovan people need to know about the quality of life of citizens in EU states and compare it with their own. And the comparison is not in favor of the Republic of Moldova. In EU countries, the quality of life is much better: salaries are higher, the health system is much more developed, the rights of national minorities are much better protected, etc.
Vladislav Kulminski noted that on Sunday, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova will say how they see the fate of the country in this geopolitical context: they see the Republic of Moldova as a member of the European Union or they see it as “a gray area”, as it has been in the past 30 years. No one should stand aside as it goes to the fate of the country.
The debate was organized by IPN News Agency within the project “A fair and informed vote for a European Moldova”, funded by the European Union and the German Marshall Fund.
