Moldova has narrowly voted in favor of joining the European Union after a closely contested referendum marred by allegations of Russian interference. On Sunday, the country held a presidential election and a referendum on EU membership, both viewed as critical moments in the ongoing geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West for influence over the small Eastern European nation of 2.5 million people.
After the nearly 1.5 million ballots were tallied, the referendum to enshrine EU accession in Moldova’s constitution passed by a slim margin of 50.46%, the Central Electoral Commission reported. The pro-EU campaign won by just over 13,000 votes, narrowly avoiding a setback for pro-European President Maia Sandu.
In the separate presidential race, Sandu led with 42% of the vote, ahead of her main rival, Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor backed by the pro-Russian Socialists. A second-round runoff is scheduled for two weeks.
“Moldova has won a difficult first step towards EU membership,” Sandu said at a Monday conference, while denouncing attempts by “foreign forces” to influence the vote. She described these actions as an attack on Moldova’s sovereignty.
The referendum result, while securing a formal commitment to EU integration, falls short of the strong mandate Sandu sought for her pro-European agenda. The outcome, especially in the face of allegations of Russian meddling, leaves her in a precarious position heading into the presidential runoff.
Despite pre-election polls suggesting that around 60% of Moldovans supported the pro-EU path, the final referendum result was much closer than anticipated. Diaspora voters, who largely favor EU membership, played a decisive role in the outcome, with their ballots counted last and tipping the scales in favor of the “yes” campaign.
Western diplomats expressed concern over the narrow result, with one in Chișinău remarking, “Sandu’s position is now more vulnerable than before she called the referendum.” The referendum and presidential election were conducted amid accusations that Russia and its allies had orchestrated a campaign of disinformation, vote-buying, and electoral interference aimed at undermining Moldova’s EU aspirations.
Moldovan authorities accused pro-Russian businessman Ilan Shor of orchestrating a large-scale voter-buying operation from Moscow. The national police reported that up to 130,000 votes may have been influenced through bribery, while hundreds of Moldovans were reportedly taken to Russia for training to incite civil unrest. Shor, now in exile, denied the accusations but acknowledged offering financial incentives to sway votes.
EU officials condemned the interference, with one spokesperson describing the efforts by Russia and its proxies as “unprecedented.” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis praised Moldova for voting in favor of a European future despite external pressure.
Russia, meanwhile, questioned the legitimacy of the referendum, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noting the narrow margin and significant opposition to Sandu’s policies. The Moldovan election is part of a broader series of votes across Eastern Europe, with Georgia set to hold crucial parliamentary elections next week in a similar contest for influence between Russia and the West.
