“yes” and “no” neck and neck in the referendum on the European Union

Voters approved by 50.08% the inclusion of the European objective in the Constitution, after counting more than 98% of the ballots.

A result full of uncertainties. After a long race at the head of the “no”, the “yes” to membership in the EU took the upper hand on Monday morning in Moldova, according to the almost final results, an extremely close result in the form of a snub for the pro-president European Maia Sandu. In a vote clouded by accusations of Russian interference “categorically” rejected by the Kremlin, voters approved by 50.08% the inclusion of the European objective in the Constitution, after counting more than 98% of the ballots.

The “no” vote maintained a clear lead for several hours, but the counting of ballots from the diaspora made it possible to reverse the trend at the last minute. In her first official reaction in the middle of the night, the head of state denounced “an unprecedented attack on democracy” and promised to “do not bend”. “Criminal groups, acting in concert with foreign forces hostile to our national interests, attacked our country with tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda” pour “trap our country in uncertainty and instability”Maia Sandu told the press, her face serious.

At the same time, the 52-year-old candidate came first in the first round of the presidential election with nearly 42% of the votes. On November 3, she will face Alexandr Stoianoglo, a 57-year-old former prosecutor supported by the pro-Russian socialists, who did better than expected with some 26% of the vote. Maia Sandu, who turned her back on Moscow after the invasion of neighboring Ukraine and brought her country’s candidacy to Brussels, had called this referendum to validate her strategy. And determine the “destiny” of this former Soviet republic of 2.6 million inhabitants.

But his bet backfired. Because even if the “yes” ultimately narrowly wins, this result, without calling into question the accession negotiations with the Twenty-Seven, “somehow weakens the pro-European image of the population and the leadership of Maia Sandu”comments French political scientist Florent Parmentier, specialist in the region, for AFP.