Moldova edges closer to EU as referendum reveals split opinion
Half of the citizens of Moldova voted "yes" in Sunday's referendum on the country’s potential membership in the EU, the Central Election Commission reported on its website on Monday. Nearly complete presidential election results were also announced.
6:49 AM EDT, October 21, 2024
On Sunday, Moldova held presidential elections and a referendum on incorporating Eurointegration into the constitution as the country’s strategic goal.
After counting votes from 98 percent of the electoral commissions, the referendum results are nearly evenly split, slightly more favoring the "yes" response.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) vote counter shows 50 percent for "yes" and 50 percent for "no." Less than two percent of the votes remain to be counted.
Moldova in the EU? Citizens responded in the referendum
According to preliminary presidential election results, after counting 97.7 percent of the votes, the incumbent President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, obtained 41.91 percent support, reported Reuters.
Since Sandu won the election in 2020 (and her party did the following year), Moldova has chosen a pro-Western course, aiming primarily for EU entry. Moldova has begun accession negotiations with the EU. Sandu promises to continue her policy, striving for EU membership, pursuing reforms, fostering economic development, and strengthening democracy.
According to the authorities in Chișinău, Russian hybrid actions have been undertaken to undermine the pro-Western government’s policies even more intensely than in previous elections. These actions include information campaigns, the illegal transfer of money into the country to support pro-Russian activists and politicians, and attempts to "buy votes" from voters.
