Moldova’s Sandu says she supports joining Romania

CHISINAU,— Moldovan President Maia Sandu said she would support unification with neighboring Romania if voters were asked to decide in a national referendum, according to an interview aired on a British podcast on Sunday.

Sandu made the remarks during a discussion on “The Rest is Politics,” where she spoke about security concerns and political pressure facing Moldova.

According to the interview, she said she would personally vote in favor of unification with Romania, a member of the European Union and NATO, if such a vote were held.

According to Sandu, the international environment has become more challenging for small countries, particularly those seeking to maintain democratic institutions and sovereignty.

She said Moldova faces constant pressure from Russia, which she has repeatedly accused of interference in domestic affairs.

Moldova is a former Soviet republic with a population of about 2.4 million, where most citizens speak Romanian, alongside a sizable Russian-speaking minority.

Sandu’s pro-European Union party won a renewed mandate in elections last September, reinforcing the country’s stated goal of closer integration with Western institutions.

She acknowledged, however, that public support for reunification with Romania remains limited.

Recent opinion surveys show that only about one-third of Moldovans favor merging with Bucharest, despite roughly 1.5 million citizens already holding Romanian passports.

She said that joining the European Union remains a more practical and realistic objective for the country.

According to government plans, Moldova aims to become an EU member by 2030, a process that requires wide-ranging reforms.

Moldova borders Ukraine and has a complex history with Romania. It was part of Romania between the world wars, later annexed by the Soviet Union during World War Two, and became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, according to historical records.

(With files from Reuters)