Moldovan president gives official speech following swearing in office

Chisinau, 24 December /MOLDPRES/ - We have managed to widely open the door towards the European Union, which is not a little in terms of country plan and project. More things are still to be done, but the way of correct. I urge you to move forward with confidence; do not forget what Moldova means – Heritage, Optimism, Fight, Development, Organization, Will and Ambition. Head of state  Maia Sandu today conveyed the message following the taking oath of swearing in the office of Moldova’s President.   

Maia Sandu thanked all citizens for the confidence given. The president referred to the difficult times through which the country had gone and was going. Nevertheless, despite them, ‘’we can be proud that we managed to be on the good side of the history.’’   

„Dear citizens from home and from all over the world, dear people of Moldova, today, I return in front of you with gratitude and responsibility alike. You gave me the confidence to continue a road which we started together four years ago. I receive this new mandate with meekness, as well as with determination. Four years ago, I promised good times. This was a sincere promise. Yet, the times proved to be difficult and with distress. Moldova found itself in the middle of regional and global crises. We remained united and moved resolutely forward. We have managed to preserve the peace and defend our democracy against the threats from abroad. I thank everybody from the bottom of my heart for patriotism, courage and unity. For kindness and generosity. We can be proud that, despite the difficulties, we managed to be on the good side of the history,’’ Maia Sandu said.      

The head of state noted that Moldova was not only a small country with a great heart, but also an inspiration for the others in unsafe times. ‘’My today’s message is an optimistic one. Moldova is exposed to the wind, but it does not fly as a leaf, but resists with determination, waiting for the wrath to pass. Today, yet, I do not want to talk about expectation, as your patience is already put to test. I want to speak you about Moldova and you will see that each letter of this word tells us something special. M – from our heritage. Moldova is a worthy country with firm and resistant citizens. Moldova voted for a clear direction, despite all pressures. A developed, European country, where we should have more safety and prosperity.  The safety of the present and of the future for us, the safety of a better future for the beloved people, the confidence in us and in our country. All these guide me in my new mandate. Our heritage following this mandate is our aspiration – Moldova in the European Union, in peace and well-being,’’ the head of state said.    

„O – from optimism, our national energy. Moldova – the nicest out of the countries which I have ever seen. How can you smile even in the most difficult times? Thank you for going with me, that all of us go through this difficult period with dignity. Maybe I have not always been a happy president, but I preserved the optimism. I urge also you to regain the optimism, not only in the context of holidays, but every day of life, as we can succeed only with optimism and energy,’’ the Moldovan president said.    

The official stressed that the European integration was our way to safety and well-being and this way implied continuous transformation. ‘’L – from fight. Moldova has a dream and we will defend it. We will win the battles one after another, no matter whether we talk about crises or the reforms needed. The European integration is our way to safety and well-being, but we should not regard it as ticket in the business class to the paradise. The French will not come to do our justice, the Danes - to collect waste or the Germans - to administrate our customs posts. We are the masters and responsible for our lives, for our country. We must assume the way of the transformations, cover it quickly and without hesitation, make a collective effort with constant commitment and not stumble over difficulties,’’ Maia Sandu also said.       

In her speech, the Moldovan president urged each citizen to actively contribute to the country’s development, for the common good. ‘’D – from development. The development is the step from our dream to reality, to a better living for us and for the beloved people. What each of us should do, in order to get there? Should contribute to the common good. Should observe the country’s laws, should not give bribe, should invest in one’s own welfare and the one of the children, with respect for the community and nature. We should learn to distinguish between lie and truth, listen to our own instincts, which so far have served for the good of the Moldovans; we should everybody learn the lessons, we should learn including from the ones experienced by our grandparents, robbed and deported, our parents, who lived isolated from the rest of the world. When we develop and grow as people, our country grows and develops as well,’’ Maia Sandu specified.       

She referred to the ‘’justice reform, delayed for several decades.’’ Also, the head of state stressed that ‘’the government will have in her person a serious and dedicated partner, as well as a tough critic in case of weak performance.’’

„O – from organization and the organization will be better. The challenges which we face are the biggest ones since the proclamation of the independence and we have nothing to choose but organize ourselves better day after day. The changes occur with difficulty; we face the resistance in the system. The justice reform, which has been delayed for several decades, is difficult, affected by angers and the interests of true clans. Nevertheless, we have made progress and we should not decline. I will not give up. I have your mandate, of Moldova’s citizens, in order to do proper order in institutions. The government will have in me a serious and dedicated partner, as well as a tough critic in case of weak performance. We organize ourselves and succeed. Otherwise, the people are disappointed and lose their patience, with good reason,’’ the Moldovan president said.     

Maia Sandu also touched upon the problems in the energy sector. The official said that ‘’a severe winter comes’’, but which ‘’we will overcome successfully.’’  

„V - from will, from the will to face the storm which comes, but for which we prepare. The fact that a severe winter comes is not a secret. But good people, we will manage to overcome it successfully. We faced the pandemic together, the inflation and all kinds of crises. We were blackmailed with gas; now we are blackmailed with the blackout; this is not for the first time; but the light will win, we will resist. To get rid of the blackmail, to be leaders, we must work, create alternatives for the present and future. We know from our parents and grandparents that any well-done thing means working with patience, with perseverance, with order and discipline.  Only in this way, we will be able to build with firmness the country which we want for our children, just as our forerunners did,’’ Maia Sandu also said.      

The head of state emphasized that the president represented a true support for the country’s citizens. ‘’A – from ambition, we will be able to achieve the goal, with sound ambition! My dear, I would not have been here without you. This is quite clear and I feel the need, beyond the gratitude, to tell you that you are better than me and that you do not need a mother of the nation or a father of the nation. Rely on me, as president. I will help you, will support you; I will guide you with meekness and goodwill, as far as I can and with God’s will. But you are the masters of your fate and are the present and future of the country,’’ Maia Sandu said.       

„Dear citizens, I say you sincerely that I worked with self-denial in my first mandate and I will continue with even more will and energy. After four years, I can say that we did something together which had not been done during 30 years of independence. Moldova is more respected than ever; the people are looking at us gladly and with interest and support us in our dream; the rest is up to us. We started releasing from the energy dependence, even if the prices are, in continuation, high; nobody can keep us under his beck and call. We have managed to widely open the door to the European Union, which is not a little in terms of country plan and project. There are still many things to be done, but the way is correct. I urge you to move forward with confidence; do not forget what our Moldova means – Heritage, Optimism, Fight, Development, Organization, Will and Ambition,’’ the Moldovan president added.   

Maia Sandu took the oath of swearing in the office of Moldova’s President and began exercising the position starting from today. The swearing-in-office ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Chisinau-based Palace of the Republic.  

Thus, Maia Sandu is the first woman head of state and the sixth president of Moldova. She became the first president elected by the people who managed to get two mandates.

The mandate of Moldova’s President lasts four years and is exercised starting from the date of taking the oath.