You're reading: Poll: Over half of Moldovans oppose NATO membership

CHISINAU – Moldova’s integration with the European Union is favored by 38 percent of the country’s citizens; with the Eurasian Economic Union, by 34 percent, according to the findings of a social survey unveiled by the Centre for Sociological Research of Moldova (CCSM) at a press conference on Friday.

Another 22 percent said Moldova should unite with Romania, the pollster said.

At the same time, more than half of respondents (54 percent) opposed Moldova’s accession to NATO, 24 percent backed the idea, and 22 percent were still undecided.

Asked who is Moldova’s best friend, 38 percent named Russia, 37 percent Romania, 8 percent Germany, 5 percent the United States, and 2 percent named Ukraine. Other countries were cited by a combined 10 percent.

At the top of a rating of trusted foreign leaders is Russian President Vladimir Putin (57 percent), followed by Romanian ex-president Traian Basescu (49 percent), Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko (34 percent), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (27 percent), Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili (17 percen), U.S. President Donald Trump (15 percent), Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (10 percent) and French President Emmanuel Macron (9 percent).

The survey was conducted among 750 respondents in Chisinau on April-30 – May 8. The margin of error is 3 percent.