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Майя Санду – интервью с президентом Молдовы / Maia Sandu – Moldovan President Interview

вДудь・56 minutes read

Maia Sandu, President of Moldova, took immediate action to ensure the safety of Moldova and support Ukrainian refugees in the wake of the European war outbreak, facing challenges in maintaining democracy, fighting corruption, and strengthening the country's economy while striving for EU integration.

Insights

President Maia Sandu of Moldova prioritizes the safety and support of Ukrainian refugees, demonstrating a commitment to protecting her people during times of crisis and emphasizing the importance of investing in the economy over military for national security.
Moldova faces significant challenges such as economic issues, corruption, and retaining its population, with efforts focused on attracting investments, creating favorable business conditions, and strengthening democracy through continuous reform and European integration.

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Recent questions

Who is Maia Sandu?
President of Moldova and founder of PAS.
How many Ukrainian refugees has Moldova welcomed?
Almost a million, with a hundred thousand remaining.
What percentage of GDP does Moldova spend on defense?
Around 0.5%.
Where does Maia Sandu reside?
In a two-bedroom apartment in Chisinau.
What challenges does Moldova face in retaining its population?
Economic issues and corruption impacting the country's future.

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Summary

00:00

President Maia Sandu's Response to War

Maia Sandu, 51 years old, is the President of Moldova and the founder of PAS.
Maia Sandu was shocked by the outbreak of war in Europe on February 24, 2022, and immediately held a Security Council meeting to create a plan to ensure the safety of Moldova and support Ukrainian refugees.
Maia Sandu woke up at 4 am upon hearing explosions, read the news, and called her colleagues, convening a meeting by 6:30 am.
Maia Sandu called the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister first upon learning about the war.
Maia Sandu believes that a president must stay and protect their people during times of crisis, as demonstrated by President Zelensky's choice to remain in Ukraine.
Moldova has welcomed almost a million Ukrainian refugees, with a hundred thousand still residing in the country, receiving support and shelter from the Moldovan people.
Moldova spends around 0.5% of its GDP on defense, with military spendings in 2023 amounting to 90 million Euro.
Moldova aims to avoid conflict with Russia and seeks to join the EU for protection, emphasizing the importance of investing in the economy over military.
Maia Sandu, as President, feels the biggest inconvenience is the constant public scrutiny, desiring more privacy and time alone.
Maia Sandu resides in her two-bedroom apartment in Chisinau to save government expenses and remain close to her office, despite plans to use the presidential residence for charitable projects being postponed due to more pressing needs.

25:59

Moldova's Independence Building: Public Access and Hiking

Moldova declared independence in a specific building.
The building's hall is open to the public, but a promised fence removal remains unfulfilled.
The office was made accessible to the public, rendering the fence irrelevant.
The interviewee resides in an apartment building, with neighbors above and below.
The interviewee's mother prepares lunch and delivers it to the office.
Grocery shopping is sometimes done by the interviewee's mother.
A person at the entrance ensures security for the building's residents.
The interviewee reads emails in the evening due to time constraints during the day.
Stress relief is found through hiking, particularly in the mountains.
The interviewee enjoys hiking without headphones to appreciate nature's sounds.

53:11

Moldova tackles corruption and economic challenges

A commission banned certain TV channels for destabilizing the country by attempting to import illegal money for propaganda purposes.
The ban was not due to criticizing the government, as many channels are allowed to criticize freely.
The ban aimed to prevent the use of illegal money and corruption in media, not to stifle freedom of speech.
Moldova faced a 6% decrease in GDP in 2022 due to the war and gas price increases, impacting trade with Ukraine.
Moldova's economic challenges differ from Georgia and Armenia, which saw growth due to Russian and Ukrainian refugees bringing money.
Moldova is working to attract investors and create favorable conditions for businesses, focusing on infrastructure and digital services.
Political competition in Moldova is high, with many parties, but corruption remains a significant issue, with parties funded by illegal money.
Foreign donations to political parties are limited to 100 Euros to reduce foreign influence on Moldovan politics.
Instances of political figures being arrested or withdrawn from elections due to legal violations have raised concerns about democracy and corruption.
Moldova faces challenges of retaining its population, especially young people, due to economic issues and corruption, impacting the country's future.

01:22:23

Moldova's Political Turmoil and Energy Shift

Police collected evidence before round two of the elections, leading to the Election Commission banning a candidate due to undeclared catering for volunteers.
In Gagauzia, candidates faced issues for not declaring income and buying votes, with Yevghenia Gutsul emerging as the election winner.
Yevghenia Gutsul, a political newcomer, won the Gagauzia elections representing Shor, becoming the governor.
Despite winning, Gutsul has not been appointed to the government, sparking a debate on her legitimacy.
The President's refusal to appoint Gutsul is based on her alleged ties to a corrupt gang, raising concerns about national security.
The President's stance on Gutsul's appointment is rooted in his belief that the elections were not fair, leading to a legal standoff.
Moldova faced a gas crisis due to a price surge and Gazprom's refusal to renew a deal, resulting in a debt dispute.
Moldova now sources gas from European markets, aiming to enhance energy security and reduce dependency on Russian gas.
Allegations of a coup plot by the Wagner group in Moldova have raised concerns about destabilization and foreign interference.
The upcoming presidential elections in Moldova will coincide with a referendum on European integration, aiming to gauge public opinion on the matter.

01:49:58

"Striving for Democracy: Moldova's Political Challenges"

The comparison is drawn between the 1996 Russian elections and the current political situation, highlighting the failure of a democratic president due to inexperience, falling ratings, and cheating in elections.
Moldova has faced challenges in the past 30 years but has managed to protect its democracy through protests and the establishment of power institutions, emphasizing the need for continuous effort to strengthen democracy.
Moldova is striving to join the EU for security and democracy, facing obstacles like corruption and economic challenges, with a focus on attracting investments and avoiding autocracy.
The interviewee acknowledges mistakes in judicial reform, emphasizing the need for honest leadership, progress in defeating oligarchs, and working towards European integration since 2005, despite facing crises and challenges.

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