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Moldovan Parliament Approves Final Reading Of Romanian Language Bill

By RFE/RL's Moldovan Service March 16, 2023

Moldovan lawmakers have approved the final reading of a bill that will introduce the syntagma "Romanian language" in all official pieces of legislation.

The bill, introduced by pro-Western President Maia Sandu's ruling Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) and approved by lawmakers in its first reading in early March, was supported by 58 lawmakers in the 101-member parliament on March 16.

Lawmakers from the pro-Russian Communists and Socialists' Bloc (BCS) protested against the bill during the session, unfurling banners criticizing the PAS as "a tyrant." One read: "The Moldovan language is the mother, the Romanian language is the daughter." Another said: "Constitution of the Republic of Moldova: Moldova, Moldovans, the Moldovan way."

BCS leaders Vladimir Voronin and Vladimir Bolea said before the vote that the changes are "illegal" and they will challenge them in the Constitutional Court.

The bill will be considered as endorsed into law after its text is published in the media.

The law will replace the currently used "Moldovan language," "official language," "state language," and "maternal language" in the constitution and all official documents. More than 80 percent of Moldovans speak Romanian as their mother tongue.

The naming of the country's official language is a hot political topic. During the parliamentary debates over the bill in its first reading on March 3, some PAS and BCS lawmakers engaged in scuffles.

Romanian is favored by those who want closer relations or even unification with Romania, a European Union and NATO member.

Moldova, a country of roughly 2.7 million, is located between Romania and Ukraine and has a history that is deeply intertwined with Romania.

The two neighbors share a common history, culture, and language. The eastern region of Romania is also called Moldova.

Most of Moldova was annexed by tsarist Russia in 1812 and was part of the Russian empire under the name Bessarabia until the end of World War I, when it voted to unite with Romania.

It was again annexed by Moscow and turned into a Soviet republic at the end of WWII, before declaring independence in 1991 amid the collapse of the Soviet Union.

One of Europe's poorest countries, Moldova has been confronted with further instability by Russia's war in Ukraine. It has received thousands of Ukrainian refugees and fears a potential Russian invasion aided by Russian troops stationed in its breakaway Transdniester region.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-parliament-approves-final- reading-romanian-language-bill/32321571.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.