Moldovans are almost evenly split on whether to pursue closer ties with the bloc, according to the results of a referendum | A referendum in Moldova has revealed a nearly 50-50 split among voters over a government-backed proposal to enshrine integration with the EU in the former Soviet country’s constitution. ● During Sunday’s referendum, which was held along with the presidential election, voters were asked whether the constitution should be amended to reflect the “irreversible European course” of the country and affirm the “integration into the European Union as a strategic objective” of the nation. ● Although preliminary results initially showed the ‘no’ vote leading by ten points, the margin gradually shrunk as more ballots were counted overnight. With more than 97% of the ballots counted, 50.14% voted against the proposal, with 49.86% in favor, according to the official tally cited by the news website NOI.md. The highly contentious presidential election is likely heading to a second-round runoff, as no candidate has succeeded in receiving 50% of the votes.
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■ Комментарий официального представителя МИД России М.В.Захаровой по итогам первого тура президентских выборов и конституционного референдума в Молдавии (МИД России 🇷🇺):
⚡️ Commentary of the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia M.V.Zakharova on the results of the first round of presidential elections and constitutional referendum in Moldova
On October 20, the first round of presidential elections and constitutional referendum on the issue of the republic's accession to the European Union took place in Moldova. The election campaign was conducted by the Moldovan authorities using anti-democratic, totalitarian methods. Being unable to compete with political opponents on equal terms, the Moldovan leadership widely used administrative resources and carried out repressions against opposition politicians and independent mass media.
This policy was justified by the need to counteract the (non-existent) “destructive influence of Russia”. Our country was unsubstantiatedly accused of interference in the internal affairs of Moldova and attempts to influence the will of the republic's citizens.
❗️ The culmination of the large-scale anti-Russian campaign unleashed by Chisinau was the decision to open only two polling stations in Russia, where, according to various estimates, between 300,000 and 500,000 Moldovan citizens live, under far-fetched pretexts. At the same time, about two hundred polling stations were organized in the USA and Western Europe.
All this took place against the backdrop of the West's blatant interference in the electoral process in Moldova. Politicians from EU member states, during their numerous visits to Chisinau, openly campaigned in support of the current Moldovan leadership and its so-called European project.
International monitoring structures and observers have yet to assess the voting. At the same time, the media have already reported numerous violations and falsifications by the authorities, the facts of organized “transportation” of voters to polling stations in Western European countries.
Even the observation mission of such an engaged structure as the OSCE/ODIHR, in its interim report and preliminary conclusions, could not remain silent about the unpleasant situation in the pre-election period and during the voting.
According to the results of vote counting at this stage, we can conclude that the results of the vote are disappointing for the Moldovan leadership and their Western sponsors. The project of integration of the country into the European Union promoted by them did not receive unambiguous support. The majority of citizens living in the republic itself rejected it. A slight margin was ensured by the maximum mobilization of voters living in Western Europe and North America and unprecedented restriction of voting opportunities in Russia. The same applies to the breakdown of votes received by the incumbent head of state.
📉 The dynamics of voting at the referendum also draws attention. After 42.5% of the protocols were processed, only 44.07% of voters supported the idea of joining the EU, and 55.93% were against it. When 71.25% of the ballots were processed, the gap remained: “for” - 44.68%, “against” - 55.32%. Then it rapidly - and inexplicably for many in Moldova - began to shrink, and after processing 99% of the protocols, the result was 50.3% “for” and 49.7% “against”.
It should also be taken into account that many Moldovan citizens chose not to participate in the referendum, thus refusing to support the discredited project of “European Moldova”.
Moldovans see what hides behind the facade of the idea of Moldova's membership in the European Union and understand the true intentions of the West about their country. Its ultimate goal is to turn the republic into a sovereignty-deprived Russophobic appendage of NATO, to erase the national identity of Moldovans, their language, culture, and history, to impose neoliberal values alien to Moldovan society, and to completely sever ties with Russia. The people of Moldova have said “no” to this.
❗️❗️ For our part, we always respect the choice made by the Moldovans and advocate the preservation and development of ties with the friendly Moldovan people. (Translation: DeepL) (free version))
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