Moldovan President Sandu reinstates Traian Bsescu's citizenship amid pro-Western push
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has reinstated the Moldovan citizenship of former Romanian President Traian Băsescu, reversing a 2017 decision by her predecessor, Igor Dodon, to revoke it. Sandu announced the move on 30 May during her online program *"Jurnal politic"*, explaining that the timing followed a recent formal request from Băsescu himself, as reported by *NewsMaker* .
The reinstatement comes amid heightened political tensions in Moldova, where Băsescu—a vocal advocate of Moldovan-Romanian unification—has remained a polarizing figure. Dodon, now leader of the Party of Socialists, stripped Băsescu of citizenship in 2017, citing alleged violations of Moldovan law during his pro-unification activism. Sandu’s decision to reverse the revocation aligns with her government’s broader push to strengthen ties with Romania, a policy that has drawn criticism from pro-Russian factions in Moldova.
Băsescu, who served as Romania’s president from 2004 to 2014, has long championed the unification movement, framing it as a path to EU integration for Moldova. His citizenship reinstatement could signal Sandu’s intent to re-engage with pro-Western political forces ahead of Moldova’s next electoral cycle, though it risks further alienating Dodon’s base. The move also follows recent shifts in Moldova’s religious leadership, including the retirement of Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, a figure closely tied to the Romanian Orthodox Church’s influence in Moldova .
Sandu’s office has not commented on whether Băsescu’s citizenship will grant him political rights in Moldova, such as the ability to run for office. Analysts suggest the decision may be as much symbolic as strategic, reinforcing Sandu’s commitment to European integration while testing the resilience of her domestic opposition.
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