The trend can still be reversed. Many votes remain to be counted this Sunday evening in the capital Chisinau. But the partial results of the referendum in Moldova give the “no” vote to the principle of membership in the European Union (EU) a clear lead.
In a vote overshadowed by accusations of Russian interference “categorically” rejected by the Kremlin, voters said they were more than 55% opposed to the inclusion in the Constitution of the European objective, after counting around 70%. bulletins.
Setback for Maia Sandu
This result would be a surprise if confirmed and a setback for outgoing head of state Maia Sandu. This former World Bank economist, 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.
However, she came first in the first round of the presidential election, organized the same day, with 36% of the votes. On November 3, she will face Alexandr Stoianoglo, 57, supported by the pro-Russian socialists, who did better than expected with nearly 29% of the vote.
Russian interference?
The first woman to occupy the highest positions in 2020, in four years she has become a leading European personality. “It is the will of the Moldovan people” that must be expressed, “not that of other people, not dirty money,” she declared this Sunday morning.
According to the WatchDog think tank, Russia spent around a hundred million dollars to influence the vote. With, in the maneuver, the oligarch Ilan Shor, refugee in Moscow after a conviction for fraud.
Canada
