Moldova experienced an incredible turnaround on the night of October 20 to 21, after the referendum organized by President Maia Sandu on membership of the European Union. The “no » to Europe largely led during the night before finally giving in to the “yes » who narrowly wins with a few thousand votes in advance.
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With our special correspondent in Chișinău,
When the supporters of Maia Sandu and membership of the European Union went to bed, they thought they had lost the vote. An atmosphere of bitterness and immense disappointment reigned that night at the outgoing president’s HQ. However, there remained a faint hope that the diaspora vote could reverse the trend and it was this scenario that ultimately prevailed. “Yes” wins with 50.3% of the votesonly a few thousand votes ahead of the “ No “. This result remains far from the 55% announced by the polls and represents only a short victory for President Maia Sandu who was counting on much greater support from the Moldovan population for her European project.
Those in favor of joining the European Union may have believed too quickly that they were going to win, and the mobilization of their camp may have suffered as a result. They undoubtedly also underestimated the prevalence in Moldova of the fear of engaging too directly in the Western camp and the desire to remain equidistant from European and Russian influences.
The vast disinformation and propaganda campaign launched by pro-Russian parties and financed, according to the Moldovan authorities, by the Russia must have also contributed to this result on the wire. Maia Sandu during the night denounced massive vote buying and “unprecedented attack on democracy “. “ Criminal groups, acting with foreign forces, attacked our country with tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda ” For ” trap our country in uncertainty and instability “, she said.
The consequences of the vote
The objective of joining the EU will now be able to be enshrined in the Moldovan constitution but the political signal sent at the end of this vote is the opposite of that hoped for by Maia Sandu. It emerges very weakened from this election while the looming a perilous second round for the presidential electionafter the first round on Sunday October 20.
Maia Sandu is well ahead with 42% of the votes in the first round but her opponent in the second, Alexander Stoianoglo, supported by the pro-Russian socialists, will be able to benefit from a very favorable vote carryover on November 3. The former attorney general of Moldovawho was dismissed by Maia Sandu for accusations of corruption, will rally all the candidates who wish to maintain links with Russia. Maia Sandu will only be able to benefit from very little carryover of votes. The impact of this referendum result will also be felt next year for legislative elections which look to be going very poorly for Maia Sandu’s party.
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