The moldovans This Sunday they rejected entry into the European Union (EU) in a constitutional referendum boycotted by pro-Russian candidates.
According to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), 43.14% of Moldovans voted yes, but 56.86% were against of European integration, after the scrutiny of just over 30% of the votes cast.
It was of little use that the Moldovan Government, which began accession negotiations in December 2023, received great support from Brussels on the eve of the vote with an aid package of 1.8 billion euros for the next three years.
The pro-Russian electorate, including that of the Gagauzia autonomy – more than 95% against -, he made himself heard much more than the voters of the capital Chisinau and the diaspora, more inclined to enter the European bloc.
Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europehoped to enter the EU in 2030, where it already exports 65% of its products and from where it receives more than 80% of direct investments.
Many of the voters Russian speakers criticized the Government for not explaining the legal implications of the introduction in the preamble of the Constitution of the aspiration of Moldovans to join the EU.
The authorities seemed to be harmed by the fact that the popular consultation coincided with the presidential elections after four years of falling living standards due to covid, the conflict in neighboring Ukraine and the energy war with Russia.
Precisely, the Kremlin was opposed to the referendum and, according to the Moldovan Prosecutor’s Office, the fugitive oligarch Ilon Shor tried from Moscow buy the votes of 130,000 people with the transfer of 15 million dollars from Russian banks.
The No to the EU is a hard blow for the Moldovan president, the liberal Maia Sanduwho also could not be re-elected in Sunday’s elections, so she will have to contest a second round in November.
In the absence of scrutiny, Sandu will most likely face the Kremlin’s candidate, the former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglowho boycotted the European referendum this Sunday.
