Capitals: Agencies
The Central Election Commission in Moldova announced, at dawn on Monday, that the results of counting 91.08% of the votes showed that 53.54% of citizens voted against joining the European Union, while 46.46% of citizens supported it.
The citizens were asked the question: "Do you support amending the constitution for the purpose of the Republic of Moldova joining the European Union?"
The first round of the presidential elections is taking place at the same time in Moldova.
After counting more than 90% of the votes, the current president, who supports integration with the European Union, Maia Sandu, is ahead, having obtained 37.88% of the votes so far.
The Socialists' candidate, the former prosecutor general who supports strengthening relations with Russia, Alexander Stoianoglu, comes in second place, obtaining 28.77% of the votes.
Following the conclusion of the voting in the presidential elections, Sandu announced that Moldova faced an "unprecedented attack on democracy", accusing "criminal gangs linked to foreign parties" of trying to buy voters' votes.
It is worth noting that if none of the candidates receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round of the presidential elections, the second round of elections will be held in the republic on November 3.
Earlier on Sunday, Moldovans began casting their votes in a presidential election and a referendum on joining the European Union.
Moldova officially began negotiations to join the European Union in June 2024, and this process is expected to continue until the middle of the next decade. The current government hopes to accelerate the negotiations based on the great popular support reflected in the poll. If this support continues, Moldova may be able to advance in the negotiations by 2025.
With continued popular support and the implementation of the required economic and political reforms, Moldova is expected to witness tangible progress on the path to joining the European Union, which may lead to the completion of the process by the end of the current decade or the beginning of the next decade, putting Moldova on the path to full accession to the European bloc, according to a report by the Balkan News Platform