Moldovans back EU membership by tiny margin in pivotal referendum
- 21 October, 18:14
Moldovans voted by tiny margin in favour of EU membership in a pivotal referendum held on Sunday. The knife-edge voting decided Moldova’s path to join the EU. With more than 99% of votes counted, 50.4% voted “yes” in the referendum, according to the Central Election Commission.
The country’s President Maia Sandu said the results meant Moldova had won its first difficult battle in its push to join the EU. Earlier that day as votes were being counted, she condemned an “unprecedented assault” by foreign actors on the country’s democracy amid the twin elections held in Moldova. By foreign actors, Sandu implied Kremlin and pro-Moscow opposition forces in Moldova.
The referendum was combined with the presidential election in which Sandu failed to secure majority of votes and faces a second round scheduled for November 3. 52-year-old Sandu run against ten candidates. Her main rival Alexandr Stoianoglo, former prosecutor general from by pro-Russian Party of Socialists came second with around 28% of the vote.
Pro-EU Sandu came to power in 2020 after winning majority of first-round votes. The key referendum on Sunday paved a way for Moldova’s integration to EU by ensuring that the country’s EU path is enshrined in the constitution. Moldova has been aspiring to join the EU and applied for candidacy in June. The country has also been severing ties with Moscow and diversified its energy sources to reduce economic dependence on Russia. Sandu has repeatedly accused Russia of undermining its democracy and derailing the country from its pro-EU path.
