Moldova Moves to Restrict Russian Language Use in Parliament

(MENAFN) The ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, has introduced new parliamentary rules that significantly limit the use of the Russian language in the country’s legislature.

The changes, approved on Thursday, establish Romanian as the sole working language of parliament. Under the revised procedures, legislative documents will no longer be translated into Russian, which had previously been used as a language of interethnic communication. The reform also includes new speaking time limits for lawmakers and adjustments to voting procedures during parliamentary sessions.

Moldova, a small Eastern European country situated between Romania and Ukraine, has gradually shifted toward a pro-European political orientation in recent years, alongside a corresponding cooling of relations with Russia.

Opposition parties strongly criticized the new rules, arguing that they weaken democratic debate and reduce inclusivity. Some lawmakers accused the governing party of limiting parliamentary expression and undermining institutional legitimacy. Tensions escalated during debates, with opposition members staging protests and briefly walking out of the chamber.

The parliamentary leadership defended the reforms as part of broader institutional modernization efforts, while insisting that procedural changes are aimed at improving efficiency.

The dispute comes amid wider political friction in Moldova’s domestic and foreign policy direction. The government has increasingly framed national security in relation to perceived external threats, including Russia, while continuing efforts toward closer integration with the European Union.

Officials in Moscow have previously criticized Moldova’s political trajectory, warning that escalating tensions with Russia could prove counterproductive for regional stability.

The language reform adds another layer to Moldova’s ongoing internal political divide, reflecting broader debates over identity, governance, and geopolitical alignment.

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