Moldovan President Maia Sandu has reaffirmed her commitment to securing European Union membership for Moldova by 2028, despite mounting opposition from political rivals and rising public unrest.

Speaking in an interview with TV8 on Monday, Sandu stated that Moldova aims to complete its EU accession process by the end of 2027, with final ratification from all member states expected by 2028.

“By 2028, we expect every EU member state to have ratified our agreements. That way, we will complete the process by the end of the current European Commission’s mandate,” Sandu said, referring to the term of the current Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, which ends in December 2029.

Since taking office in 2020, Sandu has championed a pro-Western foreign policy centered on integration with the EU and NATO. Moldova received EU candidate status in 2022 alongside Ukraine, prompting its government to accelerate reforms aligned with European standards. However, Sandu’s drive toward the EU has faced increasing resistance at home.

Earlier this month, thousands rallied in Chisinau to protest worsening economic conditions and what demonstrators described as a government crackdown on dissent. The protest was organized by the Party of Socialists and led by former President Igor Dodon, marking the launch of their campaign for the upcoming parliamentary elections, expected in September.

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It is worth noting that the president’s contested re-election last year remains a point of contention, with opposition parties continuing to reject the results. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas recently emphasized that Moldova’s accession timeline depends on both domestic reforms and unanimous approval from the EU’s 27 member states.

Tensions with Gagauzia and religious groups

Adding to the growing internal divide is the autonomous region of Gagauzia, which has long resisted Chisinau’s pro-European agenda. The region’s governor, Yevgenia Gutsul, was arrested in April over alleged irregularities during her 2023 election campaign. Gutsul condemned the move as political retaliation, and her allies dismissed it as an act of “purely political persecution.”

Religious tensions have also escalated. Last month, the government was accused by the Socialist opposition of engaging in “an unprecedented act of spiritual terror” after a senior bishop from the Moldovan Orthodox Church was blocked from traveling to occupied al-Quds for Easter.

Despite the unrest, Sandu has defended her administration’s actions as necessary to curb what she perceives as “pro-Russian influence within Moldova". She maintains that efforts to rein in political rivals and certain media outlets are part of a broader campaign to fight corruption and protect national sovereignty.

Looking ahead to the upcoming parliamentary vote, Sandu emphasized the stakes, “decisive for Moldova’s EU ambitions.”

As Moldova approaches a critical election season, the government’s commitment to European integration continues to clash with strong domestic resistance, raising questions about whether Sandu’s 2028 target remains politically viable.

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