Moldovans voted against joining the European Union in a referendum held on Sunday, according to preliminary results.
Voters went to the polls not only for the presidential election but also to decide on EU membership. It appears they rejected proposals to amend the constitution to include the goal of EU accession for the former Soviet republic.
With results from 70% of the ballots counted, approximately 55% voted “no” on the proposal, while nearly 45% voted “yes.” The question posed to voters was: “Do you support the Republic of Moldova joining the European Union?”
The outcome of the referendum will determine whether EU membership becomes a constitutional objective for Moldova.
In the presidential election, pro-Western President Maia Sandu is set to face pro-Russian socialist Alexandr Stoianoglo in a runoff. In the first round, Sandu received 38.5% of the votes, while Stoianoglo secured 28.5%.
Voter turnout was around 50%, significantly higher than the 33% needed for the referendum result to be considered valid.
