Moldovans narrowly back joining EU despite 'interference'

Moldovans have voted by a razor-thin majority in favor of joining the European Union after a pivotal referendum clouded by allegations of Russian interference.

- Piotr Sauer

On Sunday, Moldova held key votes in a presidential election and a referendum on EU membership, marking a critical moment in the continuing struggle between Russia and the west for control over the small landlocked nation in eastern Europe, which is home to 2.5 million people.

After all votes were counted in the referendum on whether to enshrine in the country's constitution a path towards the EU, the yes vote crept into first place with 50.46% of the nearly 1.5m ballots cast, according to the Central Electoral Commission.

The result meant that the pro-EU campaign won by just over 13,000 votes, narrowly avoiding a shock setback for the pro-western president, Maia Sandu.

The separate presidential election results showed Sandu topped the first round of the vote with 42%. She will face her closest competitor, Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor backed by the pro-Russian Socialists, in the second round in two weeks.

“Moldova has won the first difficult battle in the push to join the European Union,” Sandu said at a conference yesterday.