Both the Declaration of Independence and the first anthem of the Republic of Moldova “Awaken Thee, Romanians” were adopted by organic law and subsequently validated by the Great National Assembly, which was equivalent to a public referendum, stated Alexandru Arseni, PhD of constitutional law and a member of Moldova’s first democratically elected Parliament, during an IPN debate dedicated to the August 1991 events.

Thirty-one years ago tomorrow, what later came to be known as the August Coup began in the capital of the Soviet Union, prompting the Moldovan political elite at the time to establish a Government in exile, headed by the writer Ion Hadârcă. Alexandru Arseni says that government was perfectly legitimate under international law.

Recollecting the events of August 1991, Arseni said that after the recognition of the Government in exile was sought, the Declaration of Independence was adopted on August 27. “This put an end for the need to have this government in exile, as it was replaced by authorities established under the Declaration of Independence”, said Arseni.

Alexandru Arseni went on to vent his frustration at those who downplay the fact that the Declaration of Independence and proclamation of “Awaken Thee, Romanians” as the Republic of Moldova’s anthem in 1991 was validated by “a sea of people” attending the Great National Assembly, this being equivalent to a public referendum. Moreover, added the constitutional lawyer, this represented an exercise of national sovereignty directly by the people, as enshrined in Article 2 of the Declaration of Independence and Article 2 of the Constitution.
 
The debate was the 259th instalment of IPN’s Political Culture Series, run with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.