Moldova Narrowly Backs Joining EU Amid Foreign Interference Claims
Facts
- With nearly all votes counted on Monday, electoral authorities in Moldova said a slim majority of the nation backed a path towards EU membership — with 50.39% of votes counted in favor, while 49.61% were against.[1]
- However, the non-binding referendum in the nation of 2.5M people — which has emerged as a battleground for Russian and Western influence — was beset by allegations of foreign interference on both sides.[2]
- Moldova was formerly part of the Soviet Union until it proclaimed independence in 1990, setting off a two-year civil war with Russian-speaking residents of Transnistria. Following a settlement, that area seceded from Moldova and has remained under the control of Russian forces.[3]
- Moldova has had a pro-EU government since 2021. Its president, Maia Sandu, who was up for reelection on the same day as the referendum, accused criminal groups and foreign forces of attacking the country with 'tens of millions of euros, lies, and propaganda,' to sway the vote.[4][5]
- Sandu, who won the first round of her election with 42% of the vote, said there's 'clear evidence' that 'criminal groups' sought to buy 300K votes in a 'fraud of unprecedented scale.' She will face Alexandr Stoianoglo, a pro-Russia former prosecutor general who came in second with roughly 26% of the vote, in a runoff on Nov. 3.[4][6]
- Russia's allegation was that votes in support of Sandu and EU membership saw 'mechanical, hard to explain growth rates,' and 'abnormalities.' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that in spite of this and other alleged interference, it was 'noteworthy' that no clear majority backed Sandu or the EU.[7]
Sources: [1]Al Jazeera, [2]BBC News (a), [3]BBC News (b), [4]WPLG, [5]Sky News, [6]Channel 4 News and [7]TASS.
Narratives
- Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. The Kremlin observed a number of irregularities in these votes, including mechanical increases in vote tallies. Despite these and other measures carried out to repress opposition groups, it's significant that a majority of people still didn't back Sandu and the referendum passed by a razor-thin margin.
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Guardian. There may be some disappointment from Sandu's supporters and her EU allies, but they shouldn't overlook that in the face of unprecedented levels of Russian interference, she and the EU referendum prevailed. Moldovans want to be part of the EU and that goal will be enshrined in the country's constitution.