An article in this week’s Economist, “Heading for the Exit,” discusses the extreme increase in the number of Moldovans applying for Romanian citizenship. The article notes that in a country with a total population of 3.2 million, an estimated 800,000 – a full quarter of the population – have requested a Romanian passport.
The article observes that there are cultural issues associated with this surge, as well as a simplified application procedure. However, I think that the article hits the nail on the head when the author comments,
According to a recent opinion poll, a feeling of “being Romanian” motivates less than 15% of those seeking dual citizenship. Instead, the vast majority of passport seekers are merely expanding their options in the face of poor economic prospects at home. For them, Romania—which is now an EU member, albeit the poorest one—offers far greater hope.
If a country’s citizens feel that there are few economic opportunities at home, they will leave to find something better – if possible. And Romanian citizenship would provide that possibility. Even if those seeking citizenship don’t plan to move to Romania, but rather use the second citizenship as access to easy travel or an ‘insurance policy’ against future economic and/or political decline, as the article states, the trend is still worrisome.
Strangely, the Government doesn’t seem to care because it’s not making any changes to reverse what’s happening. And as the Economist article states, “the quality of governance in Moldova needs to increase sufficiently for Moldovans to feel that they no longer need to look elsewhere.”
If the Government wants to remain in business, it needs to take action. It needs to provide basic services for its citizens, do something about Transdniestr, and implement policies that will facilitate economic growth so that the country is not dependent on remittances from abroad. And the citizens of Moldova can play a role in this reform – they can begin to hold their elected officials accountable and demand that the country focus on improving the economy and building a state in which they would choose to live.
It’s not quite clear what will happen. If people continue voting with their feet, the country’s poor economy will simply get worse, and it will become increasingly difficult for Moldova to remain a viable state, much less become a transparent, democratic country. We’ll see – will the Government find a way to provide its citizens with a reason to stay, or will a poor economy and political system continue to drive Moldovans across the border?
Published Date: February 02, 2007