Moldova’s EU Drive Faces ‘Authoritarian Drift’ Accusations

Chisinau is gearing up to host the inaugural Moldova-European Union summit on July 4, a high-stakes event intended to accelerate the nation’s path to EU membership. President Maia Sandu, along with top EU leaders like Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will review Moldova’s progress on its commitments. The government hopes the summit will unblock formal accession talks for both Moldova and Ukraine, a process currently stalled by Hungary’s potential veto against Kyiv.

President Sandu has emphasized her administration’s commitment to aligning national legislation with European standards, highlighting judicial reform as a top priority. In discussions with the EU Ambassador, Sandu also underscored the threat of external interference, implicitly pointing to Russia, in the country’s upcoming autumn parliamentary elections. The president has repeatedly accused Moscow of plotting to destabilize Moldova and install a pro-Kremlin government.

While the government in Chisinau remains hopeful, the strategy of keeping Moldova’s accession bid tied to Ukraine’s is fraught with uncertainty. European diplomats are cautiously optimistic that a breakthrough could occur after the current EU presidency term ends, but the possibility of decoupling the two candidates remains a ‘Plan B’ if Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán maintains his opposition to Ukraine’s talks.

However, as Chisinau courts Brussels, criticism is mounting both at home and abroad over what opponents call a concerning consolidation of power. Italian media has amplified a recent Venice Commission critique of a new media law, warning it grants the state excessive control and poses a “real risk of concentration of power in the hands of the executive.” The commission raised alarms about vague legal language that could enable arbitrary repression and erode informational pluralism.

These concerns are echoed within Moldova’s political sphere. Former Prime Minister Vlad Filat has accused the government of an “authoritarian drift under the guise of a ‘European state,'” claiming President Sandu is taking direct control of the Constitutional Court and the Security Council. He warns these moves could be used to annul election results or fabricate political crises to retain power. Similarly, independent MP Olesea Stamate has decried the rushed and non-transparent transfer of the Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation to presidential authority, suggesting the move is politically motivated ahead of the elections.

Amidst the political maneuvering, there are signs of a disconnect with the public. Security expert Valeriu Ostalep suggests that strong Western endorsements of the current government may be backfiring, irritating a populace grappling with economic stagnation and rising prices. This sentiment is partially supported by a recent poll from the International Republican Institute, which found that less than a quarter of Moldovans believe Russian interference will be a significant factor in the upcoming elections, questioning a key narrative of the Sandu administration.