Editing Politics of Moldova (section)

=== Ethnic identity and unification with Romania ===
The underlying issue in the Republic of Moldova revolves around ethnicity and whether the country should [[Unification of Moldova and Romania|re-unite]] with Romania, with which it shares a common ethnicity, language, culture and history. The Republic of Moldova represents roughly the eastern half of what is historically known as the [[Principality of Moldova]]. As a result of the [[Treaty of Bucharest (1812)]], ending the [[Russo-Turkish War of 1806]], it was separated from the western part of the principality along the Prut river and annexed by the Russian Empire, which named it [[Bessarabia]] ([[Basarabia]]). The western half of the former Principality of Moldova, which was not annexed by Russia, united with [[Wallachia]] ([[Țara Românească]]) in 1859 to form the basis for modern day Romania. The eastern half [[Union of Bessarabia with Romania|united]] with Romania in 1918, but was [[Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina|re-annexed by the Soviet Union]] in 1940 as a result of the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact]].

Russian and Soviet-era identity politics focused on [[Russification]] in the colonial sense as well as on stressing artificial differences between the Moldovans and the Romanians in an attempt to create a uniquely "Moldovan" identity, including indoctrination against Romania and Romanians. As a result, [[Controversy over ethnic and linguistic identity in Moldova|Moldovan ethnic identity]] is complicated and divided between those who consider themselves Moldovan and those who consider themselves Romanian. Although Moldovans comprise a sizeable ethnic majority of the population, they are fragmented in terms of degree of Russification and cultural indoctrination. The more pro-Russian the Moldovan, the more likely it is that s/he will call his/her language and ethnicity Moldovan rather than Romanian. Today, Moldova is effectively bilingual, with a Romanian-speaking majority and a sizable and influential, multi-ethnic, Russian-speaking minority, and with the Russian language still dominating the media. The Russophile population is generally hostile to the idea of unification with Romania and typically votes for left-wing parties. The Moldovan majority is divided between pro-Russian nostalgia and growing pro-Romanian and pro-EU sympathies, with a growing number of people supporting the idea of [[Unification of Moldova and Romania|re-unification]] with Romania, especially among the youth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2011%20June%206%20Survey%20of%20Moldova%20Public%20Opinion,%20January%2024-February%207,%202011.pdf|title=International Republican Institute Baltic Surveys Ltd./The Gallup Organization}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://consulting.md/rom/noutati/sondaj-fumn-parerile-moldovenilor-fata-de-unirea-r-moldova-cu-romania|title=Consulting}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://unimedia.info/stiri/sondaj-crestere-semnificativa-in-republica-moldova-a-numarului-celor-care-sustin-unirea-cu-romania-95904.html|title=Unimedia|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-date=31 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531013807/http://unimedia.info/stiri/sondaj-crestere-semnificativa-in-republica-moldova-a-numarului-celor-care-sustin-unirea-cu-romania-95904.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fumn.eu/sondaj-fumn-pe-tema-unirii-r-moldova-cu-romania-grafice/|title=FUNDAȚIA UNIVERSITARĂ A MĂRII NEGRE|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507140120/http://fumn.eu/sondaj-fumn-pe-tema-unirii-r-moldova-cu-romania-grafice/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Moldovas's pro-Western and pro-Russian factions became increasingly divided since [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia's invasion of Ukraine]] on 24 February 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Welle (www.dw.com) |first1=Deutsche |title=Moldovan ex-president detained for alleged graft, treason {{!}} DW {{!}} 24.05.2022 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/moldovan-ex-president-detained-for-alleged-graft-treason/a-61913546 |work=DW.COM}}</ref>  In the [[2024 Moldovan presidential election|November 2024 presidential election]], Moldova's pro-EU President Maia Sandu was re-elected with 55% of the vote in the run-off.<ref>{{cite news |title=Moldova election: Pro-EU leader wins despite alleged Russian meddling |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz7w9dglzzlo |work=www.bbc.com}}</ref>