Chișinău (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The result after almost 99% of votes counted in the referendum indicates 50.18% back enshrining the path toward EU in constitution.
A majority of 50.18% voted “yes” in Moldova’s pivotal referendum on entering the European Union, nearly final results revealed after President Maia Sandu expressed twin votes had been tainted by “unprecedented” outside interference.
The tight finish – with more irregular than 1.5% of the ballots still to be calculated – is far from a resounding approval of the pro-EU path that Sandu has followed over four years at the helm of the small ex-Soviet republic dragged between Russia and the West. A presidential election, which took place simultaneously, gave Sandu 42% of the vote while her primary rival, former prosecutor-general Alexandr Stoianoglo succeeded 26%, setting up a tightly fought run-off between the two on Nov. 3.
Moldova started the long process of formal accession talks in June and under Sandu has desired to join by 2030. Relations with Moscow have deteriorated as Sandu criticised the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine and diversified energy supply away from Russia. Stoianoglo has stated that, if he comes to power, he would devise a “balanced” foreign policy involving relations with the EU, Russia, the United States and China. He boycotted Sunday’s referendum, calling it a scheme to encourage Sandu’s haul at the election.
What role did foreign interference play in the referendum?
In the early hours, Sandu orated to Moldovan citizens, stating there was “clear evidence” that criminal groups operating together with “foreign forces hostile to our national interests” had aimed to buy off 300,000 votes. She expressed this amounted to “fraud of unprecedented scale”. “Criminal groups… have flooded our country with tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda, using the most disgraceful means to keep our citizens and our nation trapped in uncertainty and instability,” she expressed.
What were the allegations against Ilan Shor during the referendum?
In the run-up to the vote, management made repeated comments alleging concerted endeavours to interfere in the vote by fugitive tycoon Ilan Shor, who lives in Russia. Russia, which charges Sandu’s government with “Russophobia”, denied meddling, while Shor denies wrongdoing.
The police blamed Shor, who was sentenced to jail in absentia for fabrication and a role in the theft of $1 billion, of attempting to pay off a network of at least 130,000 voters to vote “no” and support “our candidate” at the election. Shor has openly shown on social media to pay Moldovans to persuade others to vote in a certain way and expressed that was a legitimate use of money that he earned.
