(ANSA-AFP) - CHISINAU, OCT 21 - A referendum on Moldova
joining the EU was too close to call early Monday with almost
all votes counted, as pro-EU President Maia Sandu blamed
"criminal groups working together with foreign forces" -- a
veiled reference to Russia -- for the outcome. The close vote is
a setback for Sandu, who managed to top the first round of
presidential elections held at the same time on Sunday but will
face a tough second round. The referendum had been widely
expected to pass in the country of 2.6 million people which
neighbours war-torn Ukraine. Sandu had applied for Moldova to
join the European Union following Russia's invasion of Ukraine
in 2022. With more than 98 percent of the votes counted, the
"yes" vote was slightly ahead at 50.08 percent, while the "no"
camp -- which had been ahead -- stood at 49.92 percent early
Monday. A stern Sandu said late Sunday that Moldova had
witnessed "an unprecedented assault on our country's freedom and
democracy, both today and in recent months," blaming "criminal
groups, working together with foreign forces hostile to our
national interests". In the presidential election, Sandu gained
almost 42 percent of the votes, according to the results, and so
will face her closest competitor, Alexandr Stoianoglo, in a
second round on November 3. The former prosecutor backed by the
pro-Russian Socialists had picked up a higher-than-expected
result of more than 26 percent in the race with 11 competitors
in total. (ANSA-AFP).
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