Vote tally shows Moldova deeply divided on EU integration but President alleges “unprecedented” fraud

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. A referendum in Moldova has revealed a nearly 50-50 split among voters over a government-backed proposal to enshrine integration with the EU in the former Soviet country’s constitution, but President Maia Sandu has claimed “unprecedented” Russian interference has taken place.

49.97 percent of voters on Sunday cast their ballots against a plan by pro-Western President Maia Sandu to join the EU by 2030, while 50.03 percent supported it, with 98.33 percent of ballots counted, POLITICO reported citing the Moldovan electoral commission.

Speaking at an emergency press conference as the vote count passed 90 percent, Sandu alleged that “criminal groups, working together with foreign forces” had deployed “tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda” in a bid to keep Moldova “trapped in uncertainty and instability.”

The country’s authorities, she said, had “clear evidence” of “fraud on an unprecedented scale” designed to undermine the democratic process. “We are waiting for the final results, and we will respond with firm decisions.”

As the ballot tally neared completion, campaign insiders warned that diaspora voters living abroad in the EU were yet to be included in the count. However, two officials with knowledge of the process spoke of increasing concern the pro-EU campaign had failed.

More than 1.56 million people, or 51.65 percent of the electorate, cast ballots in the nationwide referendum — well above the one-third required to be considered valid.

In a simultaneous presidential election, Sandu, who is seeking a second term in office, topped the list of candidates with 41.78 percent of the vote after 98.11 percent of ballots were counted. Her closest rival, pro-Kremlin Socialist Party politician Alexandr Stoianoglo, was second with 26.41 percent.

Having apparently failed to secure an outright majority, Sandu now faces Stoianoglo in a second round.