Moldova edges closer to EU amid evenly split referendum
The Central Electoral Commission announced on its website on Monday that half of Moldova's citizens voted "yes" in Sunday's referendum on the country's membership in the EU. Nearly complete presidential election results were also released.
On Sunday, Moldova held presidential elections and a referendum on enshrining EU integration in the country's constitution as a strategic goal.
After counting votes from 98 per cent of electoral commissions, the referendum results are almost evenly divided, with a slight majority favouring the "yes" vote.
50 per cent voted "yes" and 50 per cent "no" - this information appears on the Central Electoral Commission's (CEC) vote counter. Less than two per cent of votes remain to be counted.
Moldova in the EU? Citizens' response in the referendum
According to preliminary presidential election results, after counting 97.7 per cent of the votes, incumbent President Maia Sandu secured 41.91 per cent support, as reported by Reuters.
Since Sandu's victory in the 2020 elections (and her party's success the following year), Moldova has embraced a pro-Western trajectory, primarily aiming to join the EU. Moldova has initiated accession negotiations with the EU. Sandu has pledged to continue her policy focused on pursuing EU membership, implementing reforms, fostering economic development, and strengthening democracy.
According to the authorities in Chișinău, in the lead-up to these elections, Russian hybrid activities aimed at hindering the pro-Western government's policies have intensified more than ever before. These activities include information campaigns and the illegal transfer of funds into the country to support pro-Russian activists and politicians and to "buy votes" from voters.
