CHISINAU (Reuters) – Moldova faces what could be one of its most challenging winters as President Maia Sandu was inaugurated for her second term on Tuesday. Speaking at her inauguration ceremony, Sandu reiterated her commitment to the European direction of the country even as the looming threat of energy shortages hangs over the small Eastern European nation.
“A harsh winter is no secret. But, dear people, we will get through it,” declared Sandu to the crowd gathered at the inauguration held in Chisinau, the capital. “We’ve been blackmailed with gas and now with darkness — it’s not the first time. But light will prevail; we will prevail.”
The newly sworn-in president, who won her re-election with 55.33 percent of the vote last month, acknowledged the difficulties arising from the potential cut-off of gas supplies by Russia. The existing energy contract is set to expire on January 1, raising fears of energy shortages not only for Moldova but also for the breakaway region of Transnistria, which relies on Russian gas.
Sandu's victory came amid accusations of election interference from Russia, and she took the opportunity during her inaugural address to highlight the importance of Moldova’s European aspirations. “Moldova voted, against all pressures, for a clear direction — a developed, European country bringing greater security and prosperity,” she asserted emphatically.
The 52-year-old leader's pro-European stance has led Moldova to shift its alliances since she first took office, turning away from Moscow’s influence, which had dominated during the Soviet era. During her first term, she successfully set the foundation for Moldova’s EU accession talks, which officially began earlier this year.
“We can be proud,” Sandu remarked, “that, amid these challenges, we have managed to be on the right side of history,” citing her administration’s focus on strengthening democracy and resilience against external threats.
Nonetheless, the electoral process itself came under scrutiny. Reports emerged detailing numerous attempts to undermine the integrity of the elections, including allegations of disinformation campaigns, vote buying, and even direct threats to candidates and voters. The Kremlin responded, accusing Moldova of suppressing dissenting voices, particularly targeting independent and Russian-language media.
Despite these challenges, Sandu’s re-election demonstrated significant support from Moldova's diaspora, who played a pivotal role in her victory. Yet, domestic results showed she faced substantial opposition, particularly from pro-Russian supporters concentrated in rural regions and the autonomous Gagauzia region. “Inside the country’s borders, I lost by a narrow margin, but the support from those abroad was decisive,” said Sandu.
The imminent energy crisis has led the Moldovan government to declare a state of emergency, driven largely by reliance on the Cuciurgan power plant located within the breakaway Transnistria region, which provides roughly 70 percent of the country's electricity. With the expiration of the gas transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia, fears concerning energy security have escalated.
Sandu underlined the precariousness of Moldova's situation, stressing: “After the pandemic came inflation, the energy crisis, gas blackmail, and now blackouts.” The country’s struggle to navigate these compounded challenges has raised concerns for local citizens as winter approaches.
Reflecting on her previous term, Sandu remarked, “Four years ago, we promised you good times. It was a sincere promise. But the times turned out to be difficult.” With winter on its way and the specter of power outages dimming hopes for economic stability, the task at hand is formidable.
Looking forward, Sandu remains resolute. “Dear people, together we will weather this storm. We have faced challenges before, and we will emerge stronger,” she affirmed. The political and humanitarian stakes for Moldova are particularly high, especially as Russia's actions remain unpredictable.
