Moldovans will vote on Sunday in a referendum that will ultimately make or break Moldova’s entrance into EU membership – as well as for presidential elections, closely tied into Moldova’s European fate.
A “Yes” would consolidate Moldova’s status as a pro-Western country, ushering in a series of judicial reforms.
A recent survey showed that over 63% of voters would vote “Yes”, with an expected turn-out of 80% (Moldova’s population is just over 2.5 million, while 1.2 million Moldovans live abroad).
However, many in the pro-European camp have complained of what they say are Russian efforts to spread disinformation and influence the vote.
Pro-European president Maia Sandu will battle against against Alexander Stoianoglo, surprise candidate and the former prosecutor general of Moldova.
There are several other candidates, the majority of whom are pro-Russian. However, almost 30% of voters were still undecided, say polls.
Although Sandu should comfortably win both rounds, parliamentary elections next July look less positive for her party, which may have to work with less staunchly pro-EU forces if it wants to govern, says the BBC.
One figure who looms large over the election, although he is not a candidate, is Ilan Shor, a businessman and politician. His Shor Party was banned in Moldova last year following allegations of working with Russia to undermine Moldova’s security and constitutional order. Shor fled to Israel in 2019 after being convicted of fraud and money-laundering, and has recently been living in Russia. It was Shor who openly offered money to convince “as many people as possible” (in a poor country like Moldova) to vote “No” or to abstain in the EU referendum.
Last month, Moldova’s chief of police Viorel Cernăuțeanu said that 130,000 Moldovans had received money transfers from Russia – amounting to $15m – as bribes to vote for Russia-friendly candidates and against the EU referendum.
Cernăuțeanu alleges that dozens of Moldovans had recently travelled to Moscow, ostensibly to attend “cultural exchange programs”, but actually receiving training to stir violence ahead of the elections.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, maintains it “does not interfere in other people’s affairs” and has accused Moldova’s authorities of “denying many citizens a right to say that they support having good relations with Russia”.
VIDEO | Moldova says hundreds of its citizens were trained in Russia to stage riots back home
