A razor-thin margin divides Modova’s electorate between those who are for and against the country joining the European Union (EU), early results show, in a vote marred by fears of Russian meddling amid the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
With more than 98 percent of the votes counted on Monday, the “yes” vote was slightly ahead at 50.03 percent, while the “no” camp – long ahead since the start of counting – stood at 49.97 percent, according to results published by the election commission.
The final result was still in the balance as President Maia Sandu, also running for re-election, blamed an “unprecedented assault on our country’s freedom and democracy”.
Hours earlier, partial results had shown between 55 to 57 percent unwilling to commit to joining the EU.
Analysts said ballots from the largely pro-EU diaspora were counted towards the end, giving the “yes” campaign a last-moment push.
While far from a major success, the results work in favour of the incumbent pro-EU President Sandu, who was running in Sunday’s elections to keep her post. Early on Monday, she had 41.91 percent of the vote with 97.7 percent of the vote counted.
The referendum and the presidential vote are seen as a test of the deeply divided nation’s willingness to keep close ties with Russia or to embark on the potentially lengthy process of joining the EU.
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