Moldova’s plans to join the European Union hung by a thread early Monday with the pro-EU camp inching into a narrow lead.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu was set for a first-round victory in Sunday’s contest with 41.39% of the votes, a comfortable 15 % lead over her closest rival Kremlin proxy Alexandr Stoianoglo on 26.31% meaning a runoff on Nov. 3.
But her bid to shore up further support with a referendum on joining the European Union unexpectedly faltered.
A ‘Yes’ vote could cement the country’s westward path and weaken Kremlin influence.
During the night as votes came in, it appeared she had failed but as votes were counted from Moldovans living abroad where she traditionally has more support, the ‘yes’ camp was in the lead by almost 5,000 votes.
The near-final results defied polls which consistently showed a majority of voters in support of becoming an EU member.
In impromptu press conference, the president blamed “unprecedented assault on our country’s freedom and democracy” as authorities said Moscow had aimed to undermine support.
She alleged attempts to buy off some 300,000 votes – “a fraud of unprecedented scale,” Sandu said. Ballots were still being counted.
She said Moldovan officials had “clear evidence” of “fraud on an unprecedented scale” designed to undermine the democratic process. “We are waiting for the final results, and we will respond with firm decisions.”
More than 1.5 million people, or 51 percent of the electorate, cast ballots in the nationwide referendum — well above the one-third required to be considered valid.
The closer than expected margin plus the apparent failure of the referendum complicates her bid to be re-elected as she had been expected to win by a large margin.
Moldova chooses between EU and Russia in key elections amid Russia meddling claims
