Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: Final toll from airstrike on car in Zebdine, Nabatieh District: Two martyrs, four injured
Egyptian media: Indirect talks between Hamas and Israelis begin in Sharm el-Sheikh.
AFP: France's new PM Sebastein Lecornu resigns just hours after unveiling cabinet.
Trump: Technical teams will meet again on Monday in Egypt to discuss and clarify the final details, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed this week
US President Donald Trump: Talks with Hamas have been very successful and are moving at a rapid pace
Local sources in Aleppo: Violent clashes erupt between the SDF and factions affiliated with the transitional authority on the Deir Hafer and Tishrin Dam fronts in the eastern Aleppo countryside
Israeli media: Interceptor missiles fired in an attempt to shoot down the drone
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded amid suspected "enemy aircraft" infiltrating the Eilat area
Israeli media: "Israel" won the battle but lost the war strategically and politically
Israeli media: Ben Gurion Airport's airspace closed to air traffic following missile launch from Yemen

Moldova officially recognizes Romanian as state language

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Mar 2023 22:09
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The change will come into force in all official documents, including the constitution.

  • x
  • Moldovan President Maia Sandu annnounces the signing of a law changing reference to the national language to Romanian at the Moldovan parliament, photographed on March 22, 2023. (Inquam Photos)
    Moldovan President Maia Sandu annnounces the signing of a law changing the reference to the national language from Moldavian to Romanian at the Moldovan parliament, photographed on March 22, 2023. (Inquam Photos)

Moldova's pro-Western President Maia Sandu said on Wednesday that she had signed a law replacing the reference of the country's official language from Moldovian to Romanian.

The change will come into force in all official documents, including the constitution.

This comes after the Moldovan Parliament voted by a majority on Thursday to pass the bill on changing the reference to the national language. 

⚡️The Parliament of Moldova renamed the state language to "Romanian".

The relevant bill was voted for without discussion. Voting lasted less than 2 minutes.

Channel 24 pic.twitter.com/hvR5kvlFXZ

— Malinda 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇵🇱🇨🇦🇮🇹🇦🇺🇬🇧🇬🇪🇩🇪🇸🇪 (@TreasChest) March 17, 2023

"Today I signed a law that confirms a historic and undeniable truth: the Romanian language is Moldova's state language," Sandu wrote on social media, noting that the decision to agree on this amendment could contribute to better consolidating the nation. 

"Those who have been telling us for decades that we, the citizens of Moldova, speak the 'Moldovan' language rather than Romanian have pursued only one goal, which is to divide us. It is because once you have divided the nation, it is easier to subdue and control it," the president stated.  

Related News

Simion seeks annulment of Romania’s election over fraud allegations

Telegram’s Durov says France sought to censor Romanian conservatives

Read more: Moldovans divided in half on country's possible accession to EU: Poll

The matter comes down to a political rivalry opposing pro-EU and pro-Russian groups. During the Soviet era, the designation "Moldovan" was the sole officially recognized reference for the language. Therefore, "Moldovan" has political connotations insofar as those who oppose the change are aligned with Russia, whereas the use of the referent "Romanian," on the other hand, is favored by those who support the country's integration into the EU and NATO. 

In 2003, the parliament passed a law ruling that Moldovan and Romanian are glottonyms for the same language.  

In 2013, the Constitutional Court of Moldova adopted a law defining Romanian as the country's state language, in accordance with the 1991 Moldovan Declaration of Independence. On the same note, the country's constitution employs the word "Moldovan" to refer to the country's official language.

Since late February, Moldovans have been protesting by the thousands against high inflation and fuel costs while demanding that Sandu resigns due to her monopolizing power in the country.

A TASS correspondent reported on March 13 that violent clashes between the police and protestors erupted in central Chisinau during which demonstrators were seen chanting against the increased authoritarian measures of the Moldovan government: "Away with dictatorship," "Away with Maaia Sandu".

Fifty-four protestors, including 21 minors, were detained for demonstrating “suspicious behavior” and holding “prohibited objects” [a penknife and a pepper-spray pellet were confiscated], according to Police reports.

Read more: Moldova not planning to discuss possible NATO accession

  • romania
  • Maia Sandu
  • Moldova

Most Read

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Hezbollah's representative in Iran, Sayyed Abdullah Safieddine, during an interview with Al Mayadeen which aired on October 6, 2025 (Al Mayadeen)
Politics

Tehran never interferes in Hezbollah decisions: Representative in Iran

Smoke billows over the Gaza Strip following an Israeli bombardment, as seen from southern Palestine, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Indirect talks for a ceasefire in Gaza begin in Sharm El-Sheikh: Egypt

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prepare to attend a military parad in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Tuesday, August 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Security forces seal Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh districts

Amsterdam Captain Mohammed Ali Mohiuddin, who took part in the Global Sumud mission to Gaza, talks to Al Mayadeen on October 6, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

GSF captain says despite abuse, 'Israel weaker than spider's web'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS