His government purged non-Moldovans from cultural institutions and changed the outlook of the education system to be centred towards Romanian-language education, away from the Russian-centric education system of the Soviet era. Street names and the symbols of the state were changed to show the Romanian heritage of Moldova. After revolts against the pro-Romanian discriminatory policy of the government spread in Transnistria and Gagauzia, he threatened to unleash a civil war similar to that in Lebanon and Ulster.