Amid claims of interference by Russia, 50.46% voted ‘yes’ to enshrining Moldova’s EU hopes, while the ‘no’ vote stood at 49.54%, the state electoral service reported after all the ballots had been processed.
The former Soviet republic had been predicted to give EU ambitions a clear mandate in Sunday’s referendum, but the incumbent president, Maia Sandu, said there was “clear evidence” of meddling by criminal groups working in league with "foreign forces hostile to our national interests."
In the presidential vote, Sandu, who was standing for re-election on a pro-EU ticket, failed to achieve the requisite 50% of votes for an outright win. She will face a run-off against the pro-Moscow Alexandr Stoianoglo on November 3.
Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor general, secured nearly 26% of the vote, far exceeding expectations. Sandu garnered 42.45% but claimed there had been “unprecedented” foreign interference in the vote.
‘We fought fairly in an unfair fight’
"The people of Moldova have spoken: our EU future will now be anchored in the constitution. We fought fairly in an unfair fight — and we won," Sandu wrote on X.
She said criminal groups had sought to buy 300,000 votes in the country of a little over 3 million, which she described as "fraud of unprecedented scale."
"Criminal groups... have attacked 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," Reuters cited Sandu as saying on Monday.
Moldovan authorities had warned ahead of the election of possible Russian interference, including attempts to destabilize the country by training agents provocateurs and bribing voters.
Polish state news agency PAP reported that many voters had been bussed in from the breakaway pro-Russian region of Transnistria.
The Kremlin challenged Sandu to present evidence of electoral fraud. In addition, it described the ballot as “unfree,” Reuters reported.
Brussels, however, said Moldova had suffered “really unprecedented intimidation and foreign interference by Russia and its proxies ahead of this vote."
In the presidential poll, Sandu – who was elected to the post in 2020 – was one of a record 11 candidates.
Second-round showdown
She is favorite to win the second round, but could have a battle on her hands if opposition voters unite behind Stoianoglo, a pro-Russian socialist.
A weak showing in the election could undermine the chances of Sandu’s Action and Solidarity Party securing a win in next year’s general election.
In 2022, the European Commission green-lighted Moldova’s EU candidacy and opened accession talks in June 2024. The EU has already pledged almost $2 billion in economic aid to help the county achieve the necessary financial reforms.
