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Moldovans have voted by a razor-thin majority to push ahead with talks to join the EU, early results on Monday showed, marking an upset for President Maia Sandu, who had hoped to secure resounding backing for her policy of closer integration with Europe.
The landmark referendum asked voters whether the country’s constitution should change to enshrine a commitment to joining the EU, after Moldova applied for membership in 2022.
Preliminary results on Monday showed it had passed by 50.24 per cent after votes were counted from 98.74 per cent of polling stations — a majority of just 7,200 votes out of 1.5mn cast. Polls had consistently showed that most Moldovans supported joining the EU.
Sandu had cast the referendum as a historic choice for the former Soviet nation between integrating more closely with the west and returning to the Russian fold. She also failed to secure a clear victory in a presidential election held the same day in which she hoped to become the first Moldovan leader to be elected to a second term in office by popular vote.
The race will now be decided by a second-round run-off on November 3, when Sandu will face her main rival Alexandr Stoianoglo, whose candidacy has been backed by the pro-Russian socialist party.
In a statement released at her election headquarters as results began to come through on Sunday night, Sandu decried an “unprecedented assault” on the democratic process by “foreign forces”.
For weeks before polling day, Moldovan authorities had issued warnings about intense Russian interference, describing a fight against a hydra-like network of Kremlin proxies and an onslaught of illegal money intended to buy votes.
In her statement, Sandu said her government had evidence that “criminal groups aimed to buy 300,000 votes” to sway the dual vote.
“Working together with foreign forces hostile to our national interests, [they] have attacked our country with tens of millions of euros, lies, and propaganda,” Sandu said.
“We will not back down from defending democracy and freedom,” she added. “We are waiting for the final results, and we will respond with firm decisions.”
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