Every third Moldovan desires Romanian citizenship, poll

One in three respondents questioned by the Public Opinion Barometer said they are interested in acquiring the citizenship of Romania. According to the poll, 10% have already submitted applications for citizenship, 14.5% plan to do that in the following one or two years, and 9% later. Some 1.5% of the respondents stated they already hold Romanian citizenship. The major incentive which makes people apply for Romanian citizenship is related, in about half of the cases, to the freedom of movement either anywhere in the European Union or in Romania. Other 32% said they feel they are Romanians. More than 17% of the respondents said they wanted the citizenship of the neighboring country for the opportunity to prospect a job in the EU. Almost two-thirds think that the procedure for getting Romanian visas is very complicated, and only 3% think it is simple. Some 34% believe that the procedure would be simpler if it required fewer papers for the application. Nearly 30% think that the opening of new consulates would simplify the procedure. Romania’s President Traian Basescu enjoys the confidence of 45% of Moldovans, which is similar to the popularity index of President Vladimir Voronin.