Sandu wins battle, but not war - journalist

She shared her opinions on Espreso TV.

"I’ve had to write critically about the current government’s efforts to combat pro-Russian opponents. Unfortunately, my colleagues and I have written critical pieces that turned out to be prophetic. 

When considering the Russian hybrid threat, we can't underestimate it. We need Moldova to stay pro-European. A pro-European rear for us and a pro-European rear for Romania, which is a NATO country. This is a vital regional point that we cannot allow to become destabilized."

Marianna Prysiazhniuk thinks Maia Sandu has only won a battle, not the war, which could be the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“The second issue is about domestic policy and how to counter Russian aggression, particularly with the idea of a referendum. This proposal has faced a lot of criticism both inside and outside Moldova. The main criticism of Maia Sandu has been that it’s a political tactic to mobilize support for her. Voters didn't appreciate these manipulations, and we saw that reflected in the vote. 

So far, Maia Sandu has won the battle, but not the war. It's even unfair to say the second round represents a full war. Next year, our Moldovan colleagues will face parliamentary elections, and these elections will shape the political class that truly influences decision-making since Moldova is a parliamentary country. Even if Maia Sandu manages to win a second term and defeat her opponent Stoianoglo in the second round, it's unlikely we’ll see a strong majority from her party again, and we have a year,” the journalist said.

• On October 20, 2024, Moldova held a national referendum on joining the EU. Preliminary results from the first round of the presidential election show that the leading candidates are incumbent President Maia Sandu and former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo.