In a referendum in the former Soviet republic of Moldova, the population voted by a very small majority in favor of enshrining an EU course in the constitution. After counting almost all ballots (99.7 percent), 50.46 percent of participants voted in favor of amending the constitution, the electoral commission said.
The decisive factor was apparently the hundreds of thousands of Moldovans living abroad, especially in the EU. Pro-Western leader Maia Sandu thanked the diaspora for “saving” the vote. Moldova, with 2.5 million inhabitants, has traditionally been torn between the West and Russia. The impoverished agricultural country, located between EU and NATO member Romania and Ukraine, which is under attack by Russia, is a candidate for EU membership.
At the same time, presidential elections also took place on Sunday. Sandu was the first of the eleven candidates to pass the target, but missed an absolute majority and must therefore go to a second round in two weeks. The 52-year-old asked for the votes of voters who voted for one of the four other pro-European candidates.
Sandu must enter the second round against the former attorney general
According to the electoral commission, turnout in the presidential elections was 51.68 percent. After counting more than 99 percent of the ballots, Sandu received approximately 42.3 percent of the votes. In the second round on November 3, former Attorney General Alexandr Stoianoglo will be her opponent. He received 26 percent of the vote and stood as a candidate for the traditionally strong Socialist Party of pro-Russian former president Igor Dodon.
The incumbent president also informed the public of “evidence that 300,000 votes had been purchased.” Tens of millions of euros were spent by criminal groups in collaboration with foreign powers to spread lies and propaganda. The head of state gave no details. A BBC reporter even found voters who had been promised money to vote a certain way. A woman approached admitted this, but would not reveal which or which candidate she should vote for (see video below).
EU and Russia with mutual accusations
However, Moldovan security forces had already exposed voter bribery and pro-Russian disinformation before the elections. The spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell Peter Stano spoke in Brussels on Monday about a targeted Russian campaign of “intimidation” and “interference” in the southeastern European country. Russia is demanding proof of Sandu’s serious allegations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The Kremlin in turn accused the European Union of influencing the elections by promising billions of euros. During a visit to Chisinau and a meeting with Sandu shortly before the elections, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged 1.8 billion euros in funding. The financial injection would mainly be intended to stimulate growth, create jobs and improve services and infrastructure.
In addition to Russia, the oligarch loyal to Moscow, Ilan Shor, who fled abroad, is considered an influential player in Moldovan politics. He was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for money laundering and fraud and is wanted. According to Russian state media, Shor accused his rival Sandu of failing in the elections: Moldova does not need the EU.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
