So this is a complicated issue. Polls have varied over time but typically they show 3 main ideas (and I am really generalizing here)
1) Higher support for union than in Moldova. 50%+ in some polls
2) Lower intensity of feeling on the issue. Lots of people think Moldova would be nice to have, far fewer think it should be a major foreign policy focus
3) Generally mixed feelings about Moldovans. Past polls have showed a fair amount of discrimination against Moldovans on the basis of being backward, rednecks, having funny accents, etc. I haven't seen recent polls and there is a decent chance this has changed a bit as Romanians have gotten more to know about Moldova and Moldovan politics (e.g. Maia Sandu is wildly popular). But sentiments there have always been complicated.
Again, massive generalizations here.
One more thing, among the pro-union vote in Romania is the *very* hard core AUR party and far-right groups around George Simion, etc. They are less interested in union than annexation - including large parts of Ukraine.
So once again, the picture is complicated. I would say that similar to Moldova a massive crisis would be needed to create a consensus.
I very much enjoyed this historical summary and modern implications of the relationship between Moldova and Romania. Thank you for the lesson.
Ditto, David, thanks.
Very interesting. Is Romania interested in absorbing Moldova?
Hi Thomas,
So this is a complicated issue. Polls have varied over time but typically they show 3 main ideas (and I am really generalizing here)
1) Higher support for union than in Moldova. 50%+ in some polls
2) Lower intensity of feeling on the issue. Lots of people think Moldova would be nice to have, far fewer think it should be a major foreign policy focus
3) Generally mixed feelings about Moldovans. Past polls have showed a fair amount of discrimination against Moldovans on the basis of being backward, rednecks, having funny accents, etc. I haven't seen recent polls and there is a decent chance this has changed a bit as Romanians have gotten more to know about Moldova and Moldovan politics (e.g. Maia Sandu is wildly popular). But sentiments there have always been complicated.
Again, massive generalizations here.
One more thing, among the pro-union vote in Romania is the *very* hard core AUR party and far-right groups around George Simion, etc. They are less interested in union than annexation - including large parts of Ukraine.
So once again, the picture is complicated. I would say that similar to Moldova a massive crisis would be needed to create a consensus.