Moldova: Romanian citizenship demand booming
The number of Moldovans seeking to regain their Romanian citizenship is growing rapidly, according to jurist and consultant Andrei Sprânceană.
In an interview with Radio Moldova's Zi de Zi program, Sprânceană said that the number of applications has increased fivefold since 2014. In 2020, 104,000 applications were filed, even though the process was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The numbers speak for themselves," Sprânceană said. "In 2014, there were 22,000 applications. In 2015, there were 80,000 applications. In 2016, there were 115,000 applications. And in 2020, even with the pandemic, there were 104,000 applications."
Sprânceană attributes the surge in applications to a number of factors, including the economic and political situation in Moldova. Many Moldovans see Romanian citizenship as a way to improve their lives and to have access to the European Union.
"The process of regaining Romanian citizenship is quite difficult," Sprânceană said. "The Romanian authorities are imposing more and more rigors, and the process has become more and more difficult from year to year."
Despite the difficulties, Sprânceană says that the number of Moldovans seeking to regain their Romanian citizenship is likely to continue to grow in the coming years.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
