Moldova’s EU referendum goes to wire after Sandu decries vote meddling
EU Referendum Hangs by a Thread Amid Allegations of Foreign Interference
CHISINAU, Oct 21 — In a highly contested referendum, Moldova’s decision to join the European Union has passed by a razor-thin margin of 50.09%, according to partial results released on Monday. With only 1.5% of the ballots yet to be counted, the results show a narrow victory for the “yes” vote, marking a significant, though fragile, endorsement of the country’s pro-EU future.
The referendum, held on Sunday alongside a presidential election, has been marred by allegations of outside interference, with President Maia Sandu accusing foreign forces of attempting to sway the vote. Sandu, who received 42% of the presidential vote, will face former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, who secured 26%, in a run-off election set for November 3, as no candidate surpassed the 50% threshold needed to win outright.
Sandu has championed Moldova’s pro-EU path throughout her presidency, steering the small ex-Soviet republic toward European integration while distancing it from Russia’s influence. Moldova began formal talks to join the EU in June, aiming for full membership by 2030. However, the slim referendum result falls short of the strong mandate Sandu had hoped for…
