'Türkiye has always been friendly towards Moldova,' says presidential hopeful ahead of October elections

By Gokhan Celiker

ISTANBUL (AA) - Speaking ahead of elections this fall, Moldovan presidential candidate Victoria Furtuna stressed her country’s longstanding friendship with Türkiye, voicing admiration for Türkiye's economic policies and highlighting the importance of fostering strong international ties as she seeks the presidency and pushes Moldova's EU membership bid.​​​​​​​

In an exclusive interview, Furtuna spoke to Anadolu about her goals in seeking the presidency, the war against Russia in neighboring Ukraine, and relations between Türkiye and Moldova.

Saying that her campaign will stress the protection of Moldova's peace, independence, neutrality and sovereignty, Furtuna said she will promote “values, traditions and faith.”

Politicians in her country have been pursuing policies that have “diminished self-confidence” for 30 years, said Furtuna, a former prosecutor who tackled corruption.

In addition to security problems for Moldova from the impact of the war next door, the conflict in Ukraine has also had a negative impact on local countries’ economic growth and competitiveness, she said.

Türkiye recognized Moldova’s independence in December 1991, soon after the breakup of the Soviet Union, and diplomatic ties were established the following year.

In 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to Moldova, including the autonomous region of the country’s Gagauz, an ethnic Turkic people. The next year Moldova’s then-President Igor Dodon visited the Turkish capital Ankara to attend the first meeting of the countries' high-level strategic cooperation council.

- Ties with Türkiye

“Türkiye has always been friendly towards Moldova,” said Furtuna.

She said that she liked President Erdogan's economic stance that encourages production, arguing that Moldova needs similar policies.

Saying she is in favor of “being friends” with all countries, Furtuna added that countries can learn and gain from each other through friendly ties.

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- Economy

The Russia-Ukraine war has damaged trade and reduced the region’s attractiveness for investment, Furtuna said, adding that this has increased risks for the business world and that her country has faced economic stagnation since the war began, in March 2022.

Furtuna underlined that Moldova has a well-developed agricultural sector with many agricultural products that can be exported to both the EU and Russia.

Stating that Moldova severed trade relations with Russia after the war, she stressed that this move hurt local producers.

Noting that Moldova has gotten more loans in recent years than in the decades since the country was founded, she warned that now it is at risk of being unable to repay its debts.

- Bid to join EU

Furtuna described Moldova as a European country, saying that it aims to join the EU.

Arguing that it is important for the EU to stick to “the original idea of an economic union” and not a political union, she stressed that they are closer to Hungary's vision of the EU.

Moldova and Hungary – both largely Christian countries – attach importance to common “Christian values” such as the “traditional family,” she said, arguing that the family is the basis of everything, but that this is ignored by other countries in the EU.

“Imposed values are artificially designed to divide the people, weaken the nation, dominate and manipulate,” Furtuna said, underlining that the EU is an economic union, not an understanding that “includes insulting Christianity,” as at the opening of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Türkiye has also warned of impositions designed to harm the family and traditional Muslim values, also stressing the need to respect all faiths, including Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

Furtuna said that Hungary is trying to return the EU to its “original direction” during its current six-month EU presidency and added: “We hope that Hungary's voice will be heard.”

The Moldovan people will go to the polls on Oct. 20 to elect the country’s next president and also vote on a referendum on Moldova seeking EU membership.

*Writing by Efe Ozkan​​​​​​​