In Strasbourg, during the ongoing plenary session of the European Parliament, a debate was held on strengthening Moldova’s resilience to Russian interference ahead of the presidential election and constitutional referendum on EU integration scheduled for October 20. PiS MEPs Tobiasz Bocheński, Adam Bielan, and Małgorzata Gosiewska spoke during the discussion.
Tobiasz Bocheński stated: “We, as representatives of the free nations of Europe, are fully aware that every society has the right to decide its own future through free, democratic, and fair elections.” As he noted, unfortunately not everyone on the Old Continent shares this conviction, and there are still those who think in imperial terms, seeking to interfere in the democratic processes of other countries. He pointed out that the Russian Federation is one such country. “And although the Kremlin is 1,000 km away from Chișinău as the crow flies, various attempts to influence Moldovan politics continue unabated,” he said. Bocheński emphasized that, at the same time, the Moldovan people and the residents of Moldova themselves want to freely decide their own future, equality, and democracy. Speaking about the importance of the fast-approaching landmark elections in Moldova, he stated that they will determine not only the choice of head of state but also Chisinau’s geopolitical direction. “They will determine whether Moldova will continue to move toward the European Union—toward freedom, equality, and the rule of law—or whether we will allow the Kremlin to extend its long reach to further destabilize the situation in Central,” stated the PiS MEP. The MEP also called for EU support for Moldova: “As those committed to a world of values, we cannot allow Moldova to remain alone in this difficult struggle.”
Speaking on behalf of the ECR Group, Adam Bielan expressed deep solidarity with the people of Moldova. “We admire their commendable efforts toward democratic reforms, particularly the adoption of the electoral code in 2022, which strengthened the legal framework for the upcoming elections,” he emphasized.
At the same time, he commended Moldova’s resilience in the face of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which is raging just across its border, and in the face of the Kremlin’s ongoing interference in its affairs.
“In the face of these challenges, Moldova is demonstrating a firm commitment to European integration and is doing everything it can to move in that direction,” the MEP noted, while stressing, however, that vigilance on this issue must be maintained. “We strongly condemn Moscow’s repeated attempts to destabilize the situation in Moldova and call on the Russian authorities to cease provocations and withdraw their troops from Transnistria,” the politician urged. Adam Bielan also emphasized the need for continued financial, political, and technical support for Moldova, including efforts toward the peaceful reintegration of Transnistria, secure elections, and Moldova’s economic development.
Małgorzata Gosiewska stated: “Moldova’s bold progress toward European integration is under constant attack.” She said that in light of the upcoming key presidential elections in Moldova and the decisive referendum on integration with the European Union, “we must act decisively to protect this democratic process from external interference by Russia, whose relentless attempts to destabilize Moldova threaten its sovereignty.” “The European Union must stand shoulder to shoulder with Moldova, providing solid political, financial, and technical support to ensure that its elections are free, fair, and resistant to external manipulation,” the MEP urged. She also noted that Poland has been actively participating in these processes for years, both through development cooperation using EU funds and within the framework of bilateral cooperation. She added that strengthening Moldova is not only a matter of solidarity but also a strategic imperative for the stability and security of our entire region. “Moldova’s path to Europe will not be stopped by Putin,” she urged, calling on the EU to send a clear message.
