The referendum on EU membership in Moldova was narrowly won, with only 50.08% of the vote. The incumbent President Maia Sandu, who won the first round with 41% of votes, will face prorussian candidate Aleksandr Stoianoglo on 3 November in a runoff.
The referendum on Moldova joining the European Union was narrowly won, but the incumbent president Maia Sandu is facing a difficult runoff election amid accusations of widespread foreign interference.
NewsMaker, a Moldovan news website, reported that according to official data from the Central Electoral Commission of Moldova, after over 98% of the votes were counted, 50.08 % voted to change the constitution in order to commit to joining EU, and 49.92 % voted against.
BBC reports that many were surprised by the razor-thin nature of the vote, since it was widely expected that the referendum would pass easily in the country with a population of 2,6 million, which borders Romania. Opinion polls conducted before the vote showed a significantly higher level of support for EU integration, and Sandu.
The incumbent president Sandu has so far won the first round of presidential voting with 41,89%. However, this is not enough to avoid a second round. She will face Aleksandr Stoianoglo in a second-round on 3 November. Stoianoglo is supported by the prorussian Party of Socialists, and received 26,36% of votes.
President Sandu criticized the narrow result, blaming it on foreign interference in Moldovan political affairs. According to The Guardian Sandu told supporters at the capital, Chisinau,:
“Moldova is facing unprecedented attacks on its freedom and democracy in recent months.”
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