The “European Moldova” rally on May 21 will be a symbolic event that will be later showcased to the participants of the European Political Community Summit on June 1. This is the opinion of Sorin Ioniță, president of the Bucharest-based EFOR think tank, according to whom Moldova’s European integration should become a national idea supported by all political forces.
According to the Romanian expert, the success of the “European Moldova” rally will depend on the ability of its organizers to gather large numbers.
“A rally is an opportunity for its organizers to show off their abilities and is a moment of collective emotion. It has symbolic value, of course. Perhaps this is something they want to showcase on June 1. There will be a declaration adopted at the rally as well. This is similar to what Romania did with the famous Snagov Declaration, but the circumstances were different then. Ideally, (Moldova’s) political actors should come together and demonstrate consensus. This is what Europeans want to see: that all political forces support the European path. So that the others don’t backpedal at the next elections”, said Sorin Ioniță on a TVR Moldova talk show.
In the same context, the political pundit Valeriu Paşa supports President Sandu’s initiative to hold consultations with like-minded politicians to guarantee the event’s success. Paşa also says that the partnership between the pro-European parties should continue past the rally as well.
“It would be great if, excluding all the Kremlin’s agents of influence, there could be a partnership and consensus beyond political competition. But I do have my doubts about those who attended the consultations at the Presidential Palace. Take Dorin Chirtoacă, who was toxic for Moldova’s European integration effort. Instead of becoming what it promised, his Liberal Party, while advocating for NATO membership and unification with Romania, sabotaged it all by engaging in corruption and a political alliance with Plahotniuc. At the same time, I understand the president’s efforts to be inclusive. You can’t exclude everyone and invite only the parties that are just too young to have a damaged reputation”, Pașa said.
The May 21 event is an initiative by President Maia Sandu. A decree by the Exceptional Situations Commission effectively reserves Chisinau’s central plaza for this event, despite concurrent attempts for reservation by the opposition Socialist Party and the so-called Movement for the People.
