Early Results Show Narrow Support for Moldova’s EU Integration in Historic Referendum

Early results from Sunday’s referendum in Moldova show that citizens are backing the country’s aspirations to integrate with the European Union. With nearly all votes counted, around 50% of Moldovans voted “yes” to the question of whether to amend the constitution to state that the nation’s strategic goal is to join the EU.

This positive outcome puts Moldova on a path towards eventually applying for EU membership, a significant step considering the country’s complex geopolitical situation. Nestled between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova has faced political influence from neighboring Russia for decades. However, the referendum results indicate that many Moldovans now favor deeper links with the West instead.

The referendum took place alongside a tightly contested presidential election, where pro-EU incumbent Maia Sandu claimed victory in the first round over her main challenger. Sandu had strongly advocated for the “yes” vote, and her continued presidency will help maintain Moldova’s westward direction. However, the referendum passed with only a narrow margin, highlighting the country’s internal divisions on this challenging foreign policy issue.

Allegations of electoral meddling and voter intimidation marred the democratic process. Fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor was accused of trying to “buy” hundreds of thousands of votes against the referendum through social media propaganda and illicit payments. The close call in favor of integration with the EU suggests Moldova’s path towards the bloc will be long and difficult, requiring ongoing commitment to democratic reforms and weakening of Russian influence.