Moldova EU hopes: Grandfather of 'Smartest Kid' speaks
The grandfather of the 'World's Smartest Kid' lives in the Moldovan village of Abaclia, Basarabeasca district, working as a local route driver.
Ilie Țarlev is a man driven by the hope that his family will one day return home and that the Republic of Moldova will join the European Union, offering a brighter, more prosperous future.
"The smartest child in the world is my grandson, Alexandru Strătilă. He is involved in many fields: music, drones. He is 13 years old now," the emotional grandfather told journalist Veronica Scorpan from Radio Moldova.
Alexandru Strătilă was born in Ireland, where he lives with his parents, and Ilie Țarlev eagerly waits to see his grandchildren during their holidays.
The grandfather takes them on trips through the villages of the Republic of Moldova, showing them the hills, vineyards, and forests around Abaclia.
He proudly says that his grandchildren speak Romanian and that he greatly wishes for his family to return to Moldova, although he knows this is unlikely, as "they have made their lives there."
"They have their businesses there, abroad. I go and work; I help them," the man confessed.
When asked what impressed him most about Ireland, Ilie Țarlev an swered without hesitation: the infrastructure.
"With the roads the Irish have, we won't catch up with them for a hundred years. Their transport is all new," says the driver.
Although his children have left the country, Ilie Țarlev remains optimistic about Moldova's future. The man stated that the residents of Abaclia support European integration and hope that, by 2030, the country will become a member state of the European Union.
"May God help us achieve it. To live better," the man concluded.
The story of the world's smartest child can be watched on the show "Dimensiunea Diplomatică" (The Diplomatic Dimension) on Moldova 1.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
