Early results show 50% of Moldovans vote 'yes' at referendum on EU aspirations

Moldova votes in pivotal election and EU referendum, with incumbent president alleging vote-buying plot.

Half of Moldovans voted “yes” in Sunday’s (October 20, 2024) referendum on the country’s EU aspirations, early results showed, putting the small nation tugged between East and West on a path towards joining the single market despite pressure from Russia.

At 0300 GMT (8.30 a.m. IST) on Monday (October 21, 2024) with 97.66% of the vote counted, 50% of Moldovans voted “yes”, according to results given on Moldova’s Central Election Commission’s website.

The final result was still in the balance, however. Hours earlier, partial results had shown 57% unwilling to commit to joining the EU.

Analysts said ballots from the largely pro-EU diaspora were counted towards the end, giving the “yes” campaign last-moment push.

While far from a major success, the results work in favour of the incumbent pro-EU president Maia Sandu, who was running on Sunday (October 20, 2024) elections to keep her post. Early on Monday (October 21, 2024), she had 41.91% of the vote with 97.7% of the vote counted.

The referendum and the presidential vote are seen as a test of the deeply divided nation’s willingness to keep close ties with Russia or to embark on the potentially lengthy process of joining the European Union.

Ms. Sandu’s main rival in the presidential election, former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo, had 26.32% of the vote, setting the stage for a November 3 run-off in the poor ex-Soviet southeast European nation.