About 48% of the Moldovan citizens and at least 78% of the Romanian citizens want the two states to unite, ex-President of Romania Traian Basescu said in a meeting with voters in Chisinau on November 26, IPN reports.

“In the case of Moldova, important progress was witnessed at a time when only 3% wanted the union with Romania earlier. After the number of places for Moldovan students in education institutions in Romania was increased from 100 to 5,000 and the conditions for regaining Romanian nationality were facilitated, an increasing number of people living on the left side of the Prut want the country to reunite. The Moldovan young people who study in Romania total 20,000, while those who regained Romanian nationality over 500,000,” said the former Cotroceni leader.

According to Basescu, the union will bring only benefits to the two states. “There are yet skeptics in Romania who oppose the union, arguing we are poor and we should not unite the two poverties. But the union will only consolidate the country. After the union, Romania has the chance of becoming the main supplier of food products to Europe. Secondly, the population of Romania will rise by 4 million people and this will lead to an increase in the number of seats in the European Parliament. Thirdly, Romania will show that it respects history,” he stated.

Referring to President-elect Igor Dodon, Traian Basescu said: “I liked to hear that Igor Dodon cut his élan about the Customs Union and said he will consult the people.”