10/30 – International News Update

In a closely contested referendum marked by allegations of Russian interference, Moldova voted narrowly to join the European Union, with the decision hinging on only a few thousand votes.

As of last Monday, 99.9 percent of the votes had been tallied, showing a slim pro-EU win: 50.4 percent in favor of constitutional changes to pursue EU membership, compared to 49.6 percent against. 

During an intense and suspenseful night, the “no” campaign maintained an edge until near the final count. Although domestic votes leaned toward the anti-EU stance, overseas ballots ultimately tipped the scales. Around midnight, with over 90 percent of votes counted and the “yes” campaign trailing by nearly 10 points, pro-Western President Maia Sandu held an emergency press conference, attributing the early deficit to “foreign forces” attempting to sway the outcome with money and propaganda. [Politico] 

Ultimately, strong support from Moldovans living abroad, especially in Europe, the U.S., and Canada, bridged the gap.

Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan, who heads the parliament’s liaison committee on Moldova’s EU accession, described the referendum’s narrow passage as “a victory for the people of the Republic of Moldova and a setback for Russia.” [Politico] 

Mureșan committed to ensuring that the European Union respects Moldova’s choice and supports the country’s accession process.

Moscow has been accused of attempting to influence the vote through financial incentives and social media, aiming to stoke fears about potential conflict with Russia if Moldova joins the EU.

The referendum outcome allows Moldova to amend its constitution to prioritize EU membership and advances its accession talks, with officials aiming for membership by 2030. They have urged the EU to commit to this target date.

In a concurrent presidential election, Sandu led with around 42 percent of the vote but will now face pro-Russian candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo in a runoff, as she did not secure an outright majority.