The union of Romania with the Republic of Moldova, possible, necessary, but complicated?
Russia’s aggression on Ukraine causes more and more voices on the political scene to support and plead – especially, in the current context of war – for the union of Romania with the Republic of Moldova. Igor Munteanu, president of the Coalition for Unity and Welfare (CUB), former ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in Washington, told Gândul that this reunification is not only possible, but also necessary.
Igor Munteanu stated that, for the first time since 1993, when the first measurements were made in relation to the unionist project, the percentage of Moldovans who want Union with Romania increased from 3% to 39%.
Regarding Moldova’s perspective of the Republic’s accession to the European Union, the CUB president says that, at this moment, 61% of Moldovans would like the country to join the European Union.
I believe that this reunification is possible and necessary. If we judge by the way Moldovans think and visualize their future, we can say that this year, in 2022, the highest rate of people who care and would like union with Romania is recorded.
Since 1993, when the first measurements were made of this proportion of carers who would like the unionist project, it has risen from 3% to 39%. On the other hand, these citizens who want the union project with Romania tend not to vote, necessarily, for the parties with unionist aspirations”, said the former ambassador.
“A decision in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova is much further away than it seems”
The president of CUB, a political formation in the process of registration in the Republic of Moldova, claims that the main objective of the party is the project of the reunification of Romania with the Republic of Moldova, but not strictly through a referendum, but, in a first stage, through the creation of spaces . integrated municipalities at the level of the two countries.
However, the former ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in Washington claims that, without a precise commitment from both countries, the unionist project will not reach its goal and objectives.
“An important objective of the new CUB political formation is the reunification project that we see not strictly through a referendum organized in the Republic of Moldova, but also through the creation of integrated common spaces – a period of transition and a tool in which. the reunification project to be assumed by the political elites from Bucharest and Chisinau.
However, without this assumption and institutionalization of the reunification process, I don’t think we will reach the goal and objective we propose. What does this term integrated common spaces mean? It means creating institutions to manage reunification.
In this way, we can deliver to citizens exactly the benefits they expect, throughout the transition period until the unification of the Romanian state. Other paths are precipitous and fraught with risk. And a decision that could be taken in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova is much more distant than it seems at first sight”, said Igor Munteanu.
“24% of the population of Moldova that Russia defends rights in Ukraine”
Igor Munteanu admits, however, that, at this moment, the greatest danger for the Republic of Moldova comes from the Russian-Ukrainian war, from where there are imminent threats to Moldovan citizens.
“On the other hand, there are some immediate threats emanating from our neighborhood, where there is a merciless war between an aggressor state, the Russian Federation, which has attacked Ukraine and which is creating knock-on effects on the economy, on the mood . on the prospects for the Republic of Moldova.
This very dangerous context is felt, at this moment, by every citizen of the Republic of Moldova. But, here, I must remind that not everyone sees this role of the aggressor state, which the Russian Federation has assumed, in the same way. There are about 24% of the population who are concerned that Russia has rights that it defends in Ukraine, so it is not a war, but an operation, the former ambassador said.
Survey: Romania helps the Republic of Moldova the most
Most of the Moldovan citizens I think Romania is the country that helps the Republic of Moldova the most, according to an opinion poll. The results of the survey show that 42.5% of respondents claim that they would vote for the union of the two countries.
The socio-political barometer of the Republic of Moldova, the third edition, launched at the House of Scientists in Chisinau, was commissioned by the Viitorul Institute for Development and Social Initiatives, the “Ion IC Brătianu” Institute of Political Sciences and International Relations (ISPRI) of the Academy . Romanians and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
The survey was conducted between November 16-23, on a sample of 1,015 respondents over the age of 18 (55% of whom answered by phone) and has a margin of error of 3%.
The full report can be consulted HERE.
Maia Sandu: “The union is something that the citizens can decide”
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, declared that the union with Romania will take place when “the people say they want this.”
You have to ask the citizens that. Union is something the citizens can decide. We are a democratic country and only the citizens have such decisions, in a democratic way. (…) This can only happen with the support of the people.
When the people say they want it, it will happen. As long as the people do not want this or there is not a critical mass of people who support this desired thing, then…” said the president of the Republic of Moldova.
Marcel Ciolacu: “Do we let the Republic of Moldova return under Soviet influence?
The president of the PSD, Marcel Ciolacu, is among the politicians who advocate for the union of Romania with the Republic of Moldova. Marcel Ciolacu recently stated that the destiny of the Republic of Moldova must be the same as that of Romania.
“The most vulnerable state to the totally unjustified conflict on the territory of Ukraine is the Republic of Moldova. We have to decide… Do we let the Republic of Moldova go back under Soviet influence, sooner or later? The entry of the Republic of Moldova into the European Union will take at least 10 years… Or you have the shorter version in which Romania unites with the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Moldova with Romania.
I would definitely like the shorter version, for Romania to unite with the Republic of Moldova. You cannot leave a country a prey, again to Russia. The fate of Romanians from the Republic of Moldova must be the same as that of Romanians from Romania – the EU and NATO. I understood that at this moment many Romanians want the union with the Republic of Moldova. We definitely need a referendum in both states. That is to say, we need a normal path, no longer do some with a gun in hand”, said Marcel Ciolacu, la Romania TV.