By G. Mudalige, Jadetimes Staff
G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation
Moldova has narrowly voted in favor of constitutional changes that align the country more closely with the European Union (EU), with 50.46% supporting the move in a referendum held alongside the presidential election. The result, widely anticipated to pass comfortably, instead came as a shock due to the razor-thin margin of victory.
The constitutional referendum was seen as a pivotal moment for Moldova, a small Eastern European country bordering Romania and Ukraine. The vote underscored the nation's deep divisions over its future, torn between strengthening ties with the EU and maintaining close relations with Russia. With more than 99.6% of the votes counted, the Yes camp's slim victory reflects the divided sentiment among Moldovans. The referendum, while non-binding, was intended to solidify the country’s EU accession process and ensure an irreversible commitment toward European integration.
The tight result has been marred by allegations of foreign interference and vote-buying, with Moldovan authorities and incumbent President Maia Sandu suggesting Russian influence played a key role in the unexpected closeness of the vote. Sandu accused "foreign forces" and "criminal groups" of attempting to sway the election through disinformation and fraudulent tactics, echoing concerns voiced by EU officials.
Notably, Ilan Shor, a pro-Russian Moldovan businessman now living in Russia, admitted to offering financial incentives to voters to reject the EU-aligned changes or abstain from voting entirely. Sandu’s government claims that over 300,000 votes were bought in what she called “a fraud of unprecedented scale.”
Moldova has long been at a geopolitical crossroads, caught between European aspirations and historical ties to Russia. While President Sandu has been a staunch advocate for deeper EU integration, her opponents, including Aleksandr Stoianoglo of the pro-Russian Party of Socialists, prefer to maintain stronger connections with Moscow. The referendum highlighted these stark divides, with rural areas showing stronger support for the No camp and urban centers leaning towards the EU.
In addition to the referendum, Moldovans voted in the first round of the presidential election, where Sandu led with 41% of the vote. However, she failed to secure an outright victory and will face Stoianoglo in a second round scheduled for November. The pro-Russian candidate’s stronger-than-expected performance indicates a fierce battle ahead.
Despite the slim victory, Moldova’s EU accession talks are expected to continue. However, the referendum's unexpected outcome introduces uncertainty into the process. While Moldova remains officially committed to joining the EU, the result signals a more complex and divided political landscape moving forward.
For many young Moldovans, the referendum represented a choice between a European future or a return to the influence of Moscow. At polling stations, voters expressed hope for improved economic prospects and greater opportunities through closer ties with the EU, a sentiment echoed by voter Oksana: “We have to choose a European future for our country, for peace and geopolitics.”
While the Yes vote clinched victory, Moldova's path toward EU membership has become more precarious, with deep divisions still to overcome.
