Moldovan President Maia Sandu said Sunday’s two votes were subject to “unprecedented” external interference. Preliminary results showed that Moldova voted “yes” by a slim majority of 50.39% in the key referendum on joining the European Union.
With less than 1% of the vote left to be counted, the razor-sharp end was far from a complete endorsement of the pro-EU path Sandu pursued during his four years at the helm of the tiny former Soviet republic sandwiched between Russia and Russia. Sandu received 42% of the vote in the concurrent presidential election, while her main rival, former Attorney General Alexandr Stoianoglo, won 26%, a result that was higher than the polls Be better at predicting.
The result sets the stage for a fierce battle between the two on November 3. .
Sunday’s two votes, which follow mounting accusations of election interference, are seen as a test of the southeastern European country’s aspirations to join the European Union in 2030 and escape Moscow’s orbit for good.
Moldova’s future has been in the spotlight since Russia invaded its eastern neighbor Ukraine. Russia maintains a small peacekeeping force in the breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova.
In the run-up to Sunday’s referendum, opinion polls showed a clear majority in favor of joining the European Union. A “yes” result means a clause will be added to the constitution to target EU membership.
In the early hours of Monday, Sandu told Moldovans there was “clear evidence” that criminal groups worked with “foreign powers hostile to our national interests” to try to buy 300,000 votes.
She said this amounted to “fraud on an unprecedented scale” and that Moldova would “respond resolutely.”
“Criminal gangs… are attacking our country with tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda, using the most shameful means to plunge our citizens and country into uncertainty and instability,” she said.
The Kremlin condemned Moldova’s vote as “ill-free”, expressed doubts about the “unexplainable” increase in support for Sandu and the EU, and demanded that Moldovan leaders “provide evidence of intervention”.
The EU defended Sandu, saying Moldova “faced unprecedented intimidation and foreign interference from Russia and its proxies ahead of this vote”.
A tight referendum result could leave Sandu in a weak position heading into the second round of voting, as he has long supported EU integration.
Moldova began the lengthy process of formal accession negotiations in June, with Sandu aiming to join by 2030.
Stoianoglo boycotted Sunday’s referendum, calling it a ploy to boost Sandhu’s chances in the election.
In the run-up to the vote, authorities issued multiple statements accusing Ilan Shor, a Russian-backed and fugitive tycoon living in Russia, of trying to interfere with the vote.
Russia accuses Sandu’s government of “Russophobia” and denies interference, while Sauer denies wrongdoing.
Police accused Shore of trying to bribe at least 130,000 voters to vote “no” and support “our candidate” in the election.
Sauer publicly offered to pay Moldovans on social media to persuade others to vote a certain way, saying it was a legitimate use of his money.
In the early hours of the morning, he announced that Moldovans had voted against the referendum and told Sandu: “I congratulate you today, you have lost the battle.”
Political analyst Valeriu Pasha said the “yes” vote – which initially lagged behind in the count – was ahead only because of unusually high turnout among Moldovans living abroad, who mostly support EU integration .
“With elections like this, where dozens of (percentage points) can be bought, it will be very difficult for us to move forward. But we must learn lessons and learn to fight this phenomenon,” he wrote on Facebook.