June 24 marks six months since the inauguration of President Maia Sandu. What were they like for Moldova? The electoral promise was to change the governing political class and, consequently, ensure a better life for the population and a more appealing image of Moldova in the world.  

Maia Sandu, President of Moldova (from the message on the occasion of six months after taking the oath)

It has been six months in which my major concerns have been the pandemic, the economic crisis, the country’s isolation, and the fight against corruption. These are four important directions in which we could not work miracles, but in which a new breath was felt … Getting the vaccine was the number one priority of the Presidency and I am glad to say that today we have access to vaccines for all. In the economy … Under the circumstances when the parliamentary majority of the Socialist Party and Shor Party refused to adopt any program to support the economy to overcome the crisis, we managed to obtain unprecedented economic support from the EU – 600 million euros for a period of three years. During these six months, I went with official visits abroad to renew Moldova’s relations with important partners such as Romania, Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, EU, the Council of Europe … I had discussions with ten heads of state and government. We have agreed and signed several important agreements for the citizens and for the development of the country. We fought together against a toxic and corrupt political system, we obtained early elections … Now we have the chance to elect a clean Parliament … I want to bring order to the country, and for that we must go to the end, to destroy the foundations of the corrupt system and to create a government for the people, for the future, for development.

Veaceslav Berbeca, expert at Institute for Development and Social Initiatives Viitorul

If we talk about achievements, we must note, first of all, the renewal of Moldova’s relations with neighboring states and with our Western partners. It is about an opening and important support from the European countries for the reform program, proposed by Maia Sandu. The implementation of these reforms will depend on the composition of the parliamentary majority. That is why it is no coincidence that one of the main aims of the President was to hold early parliamentary elections. We will see what people will decide on July 11 elections. The citizens’ expectations remain very high.

Tudor Botin, artist 

In the last six months relations with neighbors, with the Western partners, with the EU and other international institutions have changed, and this is an important criterion. Earlier, Dodon was only visiting Moscow … The EU resumed its funding for Moldova. But the most important thing is that Maia Sandu started, as promised, a war against the ruling mafia, for this is the true meaning of early elections: the war against theft, injustice, and corruption, of which people are sick and tired. Now it’s our turn to act. On July 11, we go “to war” to clean Moldova of the mafia. No vote for Dodon, Voronin, Shor, Usatîi, because they are all the same. Watch out for who you vote for!

Violeta Gașițoi, lawyer, member of Moldovan Diaspora

Six months is too little to change much in a country ruled for years by the corrupt. However, the changes have started, we have other relations with the neighbors, the EU has greater trust in Moldova. And it’s very good. Now, the change of the mafia political system will follow. The president could not succeed in this on her own, although she did reject several laws that were not in the interest of society and launched early elections to overthrow the mafia from the government. It would have been good if a law had been adopted before the elections to ban corrupt people with a criminal and dubious past from running for public office. Personally, I believe that the President did everything within the law to start the change. The elections are coming. We hope that through the vote on July 11, we will each contribute to the dismantling of the mafia system of government.