(Updated throughout with almost final results of the referendum)
Moldovans voted by a very narrow majority in favor of rapprochement with the European Union (EU) in a referendum organized on Sunday at the same time as the first round of the presidential election, two ballots which were marred by “unprecedented” external interference according to Moldovan President Maia Sandu.
According to almost final results published on Monday, the “yes” won with 50.17% of the votes.
This close score is far from showing clear support for the pro-European path defended by Maia Sandu during her last four years as president of the former Soviet republic.
In the first round of the presidential election, Maia Sandu obtained 42% of the vote against 26% for her main opponent, former Attorney General Alexandr Stoianoglo, which could lead to a hotly contested second round on November 3.
Since the end of the Soviet Union, Moldova has alternated between pro-West and pro-Russia currents. Under the leadership of Maia Sandu, the country began a long process of formal EU membership negotiations in June, which it hopes to integrate by 2030.
At the same time, relations with Moscow have deteriorated since the coming to power of Maia Sandu whose government condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement to the public early Monday, the outgoing president said there was “clear evidence” that criminal groups associated with foreign powers hostile to Moldova’s interests had attempted to “buy” some 300,000 votes. She denounced “a fraud of unprecedented scale”.
“Their objective has been to harm the democratic process. Their intention is to sow fear and panic in society (…) We are waiting for the final results, and we will respond with firm decisions,” said Maia Sandu.
Ahead of this double vote, the Moldovan authorities accused businessman Ilan Shor, who resides in Russia after fleeing Moldova to escape justice, of interference. Ilan Shor, who was convicted of fraud for trying to corrupt at least 130,000 voters, rejects the accusations against him. Moscow has denied any interference in the Moldovan electoral process.
(Tom Balmforth and Alexander Tanas; French version Tangi Salaün, Jean Terzian and Blandine Hénault)
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