‘Türkiye has always been friendly toward Moldova’: Presidential Candidate Furtuna

In the run-up to Moldova’s presidential elections, candidate Victoria Furtuna has placed significant emphasis on Moldova’s enduring friendship with Türkiye and her vision for the country’s future within the European Union.

Furtuna, a former prosecutor renowned for her fight against corruption, outlined her campaign’s focus on international relations and Moldova’s EU membership during an interview with Anadolu.

Moldova’s ties with Türkiye

Furtuna praised Türkiye’s economic policies, particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s focus on production. “Türkiye has always been friendly towards Moldova,” Furtuna remarked. “I admire President Erdogan’s economic stance that encourages production, and I believe Moldova needs similar policies.” She advocated for cultivating strong friendships with other nations, emphasizing, “Countries can learn and gain from each other through friendly ties.”

Impact of Russia-Ukraine war

Addressing the challenges Moldova faces due to the ongoing conflict in neighboring Ukraine, Furtuna highlighted the war’s adverse effects on the region’s economic growth and competitiveness.

“The Russia-Ukraine war has damaged trade and reduced the region’s attractiveness for investment,” she stated. Furtuna lamented Moldova’s decision to sever trade relations with Russia, noting, “This move hurt local producers, and our country has faced economic stagnation since the war began in March 2022.”

She also voiced concerns over Moldova’s increasing debt, warning, “Moldova has gotten more loans in recent years than in the decades since the country was founded. We are now at risk of being unable to repay these debts.”

Moldova’s EU membership bid

Furtuna reiterated Moldova’s identity as a European country and expressed her commitment to joining the EU. “Moldova is a European country, and we aim to join the EU,” she affirmed. However, she stressed the importance of preserving the EU’s original economic focus, saying, “The EU should stick to the original idea of an economic union, not a political one.”

Echoing concerns raised by Türkiye, Furtuna warned against actions that undermine traditional values, noting, “The EU is an economic union, not an understanding that includes insulting Christianity, as seen at the opening of the 2024 Paris Olympics.”

Election and EU referendum in Moldova

Moldovans are set to vote on October 20 to elect their next president and decide on a referendum regarding Moldova’s pursuit of EU membership. This decision will be crucial in shaping Moldova’s future role within Europe.