I don’t know who writes her speeches, but that is one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard given by a head of state. It didn’t insult but got all of its points through. I applaud that.
"President Sandu used the address to issue a blunt warning of the threat, and critique of past action, makes it historic." - it makes it just a speech at the Council of Europe. There is nothing historic in what she has stated, especially that nationally the government is doing close to zero of what she has shared in the speech.
Hello... Menstruatie? Thanks for the comment! I understand what you're saying but I respectfully disagree. If this speech was given by the Polish PM then it would be much less noteworthy. What is so unusual is that the Moldovan President is making these speeches and that Europe listens. If you look up the last address by a Moldovan leader at PACE (Voronin in 2001) it's more or less a list of Moldova's problems and some thanks for getting European help. Moldova as a recipient of aid has been the norm. Moldova as a moral voice that is respected is *very* new. "Historic" might seem hyperbolic and I accept that criticism. But the first address in more than 20 years combined with a Moldova with considerably greater standing in the world is quite something - and I felt it newsworthy.
When you say "nationally the government is doing close to zero of what she has shared" I'm not sure what you mean - want to elaborate?
Moldova is far from a moral voice, and Europe listens now because it is convenient, and it is all flaf-flaf speeches. Being impressed by the speeches is part of the problem of glorifying politicians, especially speeches without substance. President Sandu spoke about protecting young minds from propaganda. Well, where is her speech at home, in Moldova speaking about protecting young minds? Asking the government to initiate changes in the curriculum to instil critical thinking in young minds? How do we imagine critical thinking is formed? From the thin air? Never heard her saying anything like that at home. She is almost absent from the national arena. The whole education system in Moldova is based on memorization and repetition; not critical thinking. Do you think the workers in a factory from Soldanesti care of Maia Sandu's "historic" speech at PACE? Or, did their lives improve because of her speech and concern for hybrid wars? Do not get me wrong, Maia Sandu is a good and honest person, she's got good qualities, but as a politician and country leader, she is weak. A better option to vote for in comparison with the alternatives, but she is rather a public servant than a strong leader that creates real change at home.
Thanks again for the comment. To clarify - I was not personally claiming that Moldova represents a moral voice but that the venue and reception of the speech indicates that this is how the country is seen in Europe. You are free to disagree with either that analysis, or the conclusion. But it's my analysis.
I can see that you're very angry about the education system, but I don't feel any particular need to respond or defend / attack it as it wasn't the subject of my article. If you write something on the topic in the future let me know and I'd be happy to read it. I will note that President Sandu made similar remarks about child protection online in her press conference outlining her 2026 priorities. This was labeled a top priority there and these remarks were in Romanian.
I'm not sure what your point about "workers in a factory from Soldanesti" is. They were surely not the audience of that speech.
I am not sure what assessment you have used to label my comment about the education as “angry”. How did you come to that conclusion? Is it because it is written by a woman? And secondly, you asked to develop my initial statement that the government is doing close to zero at home, so I developed what I ment by that. Perhaps, following your own asks would not hurt.
Your analysis is wrong - that’s the whole point of my initial comment. By labeling an analysis as yours, it does not make it a right analysis.
Your labeled the speech historic, of value, etc. And I commented that is far from your labels.
Your “analysis” seems more of a state/PAS propaganda than an actual analysis. No critical thinking, just blind praises for zero substance - is this angry enough for you?
I'm sorry if you misunderstood me, I did not mean angry as a bad thing. I read this passage as angry (using it as a catch all for frustrated / passionate):
"Asking the government to initiate changes in the curriculum to instil critical thinking in young minds? How do we imagine critical thinking is formed? From the thin air? Never heard her saying anything like that at home. She is almost absent from the national arena. The whole education system in Moldova is based on memorization and repetition; not critical thinking. Do you think the workers in a factory from Soldanesti care of Maia Sandu's "historic" speech at PACE? Or, did their lives improve because of her speech and concern for hybrid wars?"
It's how I write when I'm angry about corruption and I don't think of it as a bad thing. As I said though I didn't find the state of critical thinking in schools to be related enough to the piece to argue about. For the record, I agree with you about what is wrong with the education system.
I can see that this isn't moving in a productive direction so I'll leave it at that. Quite sorry if you misunderstood me, we'll have to agree to disagree on the analysis.
I don’t know who writes her speeches, but that is one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard given by a head of state. It didn’t insult but got all of its points through. I applaud that.
"President Sandu used the address to issue a blunt warning of the threat, and critique of past action, makes it historic." - it makes it just a speech at the Council of Europe. There is nothing historic in what she has stated, especially that nationally the government is doing close to zero of what she has shared in the speech.
Hello... Menstruatie? Thanks for the comment! I understand what you're saying but I respectfully disagree. If this speech was given by the Polish PM then it would be much less noteworthy. What is so unusual is that the Moldovan President is making these speeches and that Europe listens. If you look up the last address by a Moldovan leader at PACE (Voronin in 2001) it's more or less a list of Moldova's problems and some thanks for getting European help. Moldova as a recipient of aid has been the norm. Moldova as a moral voice that is respected is *very* new. "Historic" might seem hyperbolic and I accept that criticism. But the first address in more than 20 years combined with a Moldova with considerably greater standing in the world is quite something - and I felt it newsworthy.
When you say "nationally the government is doing close to zero of what she has shared" I'm not sure what you mean - want to elaborate?
Moldova is far from a moral voice, and Europe listens now because it is convenient, and it is all flaf-flaf speeches. Being impressed by the speeches is part of the problem of glorifying politicians, especially speeches without substance. President Sandu spoke about protecting young minds from propaganda. Well, where is her speech at home, in Moldova speaking about protecting young minds? Asking the government to initiate changes in the curriculum to instil critical thinking in young minds? How do we imagine critical thinking is formed? From the thin air? Never heard her saying anything like that at home. She is almost absent from the national arena. The whole education system in Moldova is based on memorization and repetition; not critical thinking. Do you think the workers in a factory from Soldanesti care of Maia Sandu's "historic" speech at PACE? Or, did their lives improve because of her speech and concern for hybrid wars? Do not get me wrong, Maia Sandu is a good and honest person, she's got good qualities, but as a politician and country leader, she is weak. A better option to vote for in comparison with the alternatives, but she is rather a public servant than a strong leader that creates real change at home.
Hi Menstruatie,
Thanks again for the comment. To clarify - I was not personally claiming that Moldova represents a moral voice but that the venue and reception of the speech indicates that this is how the country is seen in Europe. You are free to disagree with either that analysis, or the conclusion. But it's my analysis.
I can see that you're very angry about the education system, but I don't feel any particular need to respond or defend / attack it as it wasn't the subject of my article. If you write something on the topic in the future let me know and I'd be happy to read it. I will note that President Sandu made similar remarks about child protection online in her press conference outlining her 2026 priorities. This was labeled a top priority there and these remarks were in Romanian.
I'm not sure what your point about "workers in a factory from Soldanesti" is. They were surely not the audience of that speech.
Anyhow, thanks again for commenting.
I am not sure what assessment you have used to label my comment about the education as “angry”. How did you come to that conclusion? Is it because it is written by a woman? And secondly, you asked to develop my initial statement that the government is doing close to zero at home, so I developed what I ment by that. Perhaps, following your own asks would not hurt.
Your analysis is wrong - that’s the whole point of my initial comment. By labeling an analysis as yours, it does not make it a right analysis.
Your labeled the speech historic, of value, etc. And I commented that is far from your labels.
Your “analysis” seems more of a state/PAS propaganda than an actual analysis. No critical thinking, just blind praises for zero substance - is this angry enough for you?
Hi Menstruatie,
I'm sorry if you misunderstood me, I did not mean angry as a bad thing. I read this passage as angry (using it as a catch all for frustrated / passionate):
"Asking the government to initiate changes in the curriculum to instil critical thinking in young minds? How do we imagine critical thinking is formed? From the thin air? Never heard her saying anything like that at home. She is almost absent from the national arena. The whole education system in Moldova is based on memorization and repetition; not critical thinking. Do you think the workers in a factory from Soldanesti care of Maia Sandu's "historic" speech at PACE? Or, did their lives improve because of her speech and concern for hybrid wars?"
It's how I write when I'm angry about corruption and I don't think of it as a bad thing. As I said though I didn't find the state of critical thinking in schools to be related enough to the piece to argue about. For the record, I agree with you about what is wrong with the education system.
I can see that this isn't moving in a productive direction so I'll leave it at that. Quite sorry if you misunderstood me, we'll have to agree to disagree on the analysis.