ISTANBUL

At her swearing-in for a second term, Moldova’s president on Tuesday reiterated her country’s aspirations to join the European Union.

“Moldova is a proud nation with resilient citizens. And Moldova, despite all pressures, has voted for a clear direction: a developed, European country with greater safety and more prosperity,” Maia Sandu said at her inauguration speech in Chisinau, the country’s capital.

Expressing her gratitude to Moldovan citizens for entrusting her with a second term, Sandu said the country currently finds itself in the midst of regional and global crises.

Sandu said that despite the crises at home, they pale in comparison to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war taking place across Moldova’s northern and eastern borders.

She added that the guiding principles of her new four-year mandate are not only the safety of today and tomorrow for her citizens, but also the promise of “a better future for our loved ones, and confidence in ourselves and in our country.”

“Our legacy after this mandate is our aspiration: Moldova in the European Union, a peaceful and prosperous Moldova,” Sandu said.

She also said European integration is Moldova’s “path to safety and prosperity,” and that they have managed to widen the doors toward joining the EU.

“There’s still much to do, but the path is the right one. I urge you to move forward with confidence,” she added.

Sandu, who first took office in 2020, was reelected president in a Nov. 3 runoff vote.

The initial vote, which took place in late October, was held alongside a referendum on amending the country's constitution to enshrine Moldova's EU aspirations. The referendum passed, with the public voting in favor of the country’s EU path.