Moldova's EU Aspiration Faces Setback Amid Electoral Manipulations
The recent EU referendum and presidential election results in Moldova present a surprising challenge for President Maia Sandu and her government in their quest for European integration. Following the vote, Sandu remarked, "I won fairly in an unfair fight," referring to the compromises and obstacles they faced during the electoral process.
The final tally revealed that just over 50.5 percent of eligible Moldovans supported enshrining EU accession in the constitution. In a press conference held in Chișinău, the President highlighted that this narrow margin of victory was significantly affected by Russian interference and electoral manipulations. Sandu described the disinformation campaigns led by Russia and support for pro-Russian candidates as direct assaults on Moldovan democracy. She emphasized the urgent need to tackle corruption that fuels vote-buying and the illegal financing of political parties to strengthen democratic processes.
European leaders have expressed relief at the referendum outcome. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, reaffirmed the independence and strength of Moldova, commending its aspirations for a European future via posts on social media. Likewise, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock celebrated the vote's outcome as a 'great relief,' positioning Moldova's EU course as the foremost guarantee for peace and freedom.
However, the Russian government cast doubt on the referendum results, asserting that the votes were compromised and speculating about an improbable rise in support for the President and EU during the counting process. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov questioned the legitimacy of the electoral process itself.
In a disheartening revelation, Sandu accused pro-Russian entities of purchasing approximately 300,000 votes to undermine the election's integrity. She claimed that nearly 100 million euros had been allocated to distort the electoral process. Sandu had led in the first round of the presidential race, obtaining 42 percent of the votes, while her chief opponent, Socialist Alexandr Stoianoglo, garnered 26 percent amidst corruption investigations against him.
Looking ahead to the runoff election scheduled in two weeks, it appears that Sandu’s path may become more uncertain, especially if other candidates rally their supporters behind Stoianoglo. With voter turnout hovering just above 50 percent, Sandu is appealing to citizens who cast votes for non-partisan candidates, urging them to align with her to prevent a political disaster.
In the lead-up to the referendum and election, concerns arose regarding whether enough voter participation would meet the 30 percent threshold necessary for the constitutional amendment vote. The close referendum result now poses a considerable embarrassment for a government that intended to secure a clearer mandate to pursue its pro-Western agenda.
Information about substantial disinformation strategies and vote-buying surfaced during the campaign. Ilan Șor, a businessman currently in exile in Moscow, had publicly called for a boycott of the referendum and allegedly funneled funds back to Moldova, incentivizing votes against Sandu's cause. Reports indicate that Șor and his associates successfully mobilized against her agenda, with claims that approximately 100 million euros from Russia facilitated their efforts.
A recent investigative report by the acclaimed Moldovan newspaper Ziarul de Gardă detailed an undercover operation revealing how agents within Șor's campaign manipulated voters and spread disinformation about the EU and President Sandu. According to findings from the Moldovan police, over 130,000 citizens reportedly received payments from Russian sources to vote against the referendum, particularly in the autonomous region of Gagauzia, where only around five percent supported constitutional EU accession.
This growing influence of Russian-backed initiatives presents a complex and potentially perilous journey towards European integration for Moldova. President Sandu’s efforts to foster a reliable relationship with the EU face obstacles not just rooted in local political dynamics but in broader geopolitical tensions spanning from Moscow's reach into Moldova's democratic processes.
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