Irina Vlah, leader of the Heart of Moldova Party and former Başkan of Gagauzia, has published an open letter addressed to the Head of the EU Delegation in Chișinău, Ivona Piorko. In the letter, she criticizes the current government and calls on Brussels to reconsider its attitude toward developments in the republic.
The politician said that the silent approval of the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (Romanian: Partidul Acțiune și Solidaritate, PAS) by European leaders is leading to a decline in public trust in European integration.
In her appeal, Irina Vlah argues that the current situation in Moldova does not meet the Copenhagen criteria, which are required for accession to the European Union. According to her, during more than four years of PAS rule the country’s key legal institutions have been weakened.
“The justice system is in a deep crisis. The national economy is in serious trouble, and investments are not coming. State institutions no longer serve the public interest. Instead, they are used against political opponents,” she said.
Vlah also stressed that citizens of Moldova directly link the government’s actions to the European Union. This is because most reforms are presented as part of the country’s European integration process.
Addressing Ivona Piorko, the politician posed a direct question:
“Do you want to be an ally of the Moldovan people or an ally of PAS?”
Pointing to what she described as the complete disconnect of PAS and President Maia Sandu from the interests of ordinary citizens, Irina Vlah warned Brussels about possible consequences.
If the EU is not as demanding of Chișinău as it was in the past, she said, this could ultimately discredit the country’s European path.
