RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

 Moldova, between the West and the East

The Republic of Moldova held  presidential elections and a referendum on EU membership.

Maia Sandu got most of the votes in the first round Photo: presedinte.md
Maia Sandu got most of the votes in the first round Photo: presedinte.md

, 21.10.2024, 14:00

The Republic of Moldova held  presidential elections and a referendum on EU membership.

 

Casting their vote in larger numbers than in the previous presidential elections, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova decided that the future head of state should be elected in a new round of voting, in two weeks. The incumbent president, the pro- European Maia Sandu, and the candidate supported by the pro-Russian party of socialists, Alexandr Stoianoglo are the two contenders.

 

In the first round, the former World Bank economist and the first woman to become president of Moldova, obtained 42% of the votes, the highest share of the 11 candidates, but still insufficient to secure a new mandate at the helm of the country. A country which, under her leadership, turned its back on Moscow after Russia’s invasion of the neighboring Ukraine and which this year officially opened accession negotiations to the European Union. Maia Sandu even called a referendum on the inclusion in the Constitution, based on the people’s vote, of the country’s irreversible European path The referendum, held on October 20, was meant to validate the strategy to determine the destiny of the former Soviet republic of 2.6 million inhabitants. A lost bet? Before the votes of the Diaspora are counted, the results show a higher number of people who oppose EU accession, prompting president Maia Sandu to denounce an unprecedented fraud, “an unprecedented attack on democracy”: “Criminal groups, together with foreign forces hostile to our interests, attacked our country with tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda, with the most wretched means, in order to lead our citizens and our country to an area of ​​uncertainty.”

 

In a vote suspected of Russian interference, rejected “categorically” by the Kremlin, 53% of Moldovans voted against the inclusion of the European accession objective in the Constitution, according to results after counting more than 90% of the ballots. However, the pro-European camp took the lead after the counting of more than 98% of the votes, the advance being most likely due to the Diaspora, who supports EU accession. The extremely tight result is surprising, given that recent polls showed the YES vote would be dominant. Without questioning the negotiations with the 27, the result weakens, in a way, the pro-European image of the population and Maia Sandu’s leadership, analysts specialised in the ex-Soviet area say.

Holy Friday procession
Today in the News Thursday, 17 April 2025

Christians before Easter

The Orthodox Christians in Romania are preparing to celebrate Easter – the feast of light and joy, considered the greatest celebration of...

Christians before Easter
Photo: presidency.ro
Today in the News Wednesday, 16 April 2025

Strategic partnership reaffirmed

  With a new administration led by the Republican Donald Trump that excels in unexpected moves, the United States has in Congress an institution...

Strategic partnership reaffirmed
Mark Rutte e Volodymyr Zelensky (foto: facebook.com/ NATO)
Today in the News Wednesday, 16 April 2025

NATO continues to support Ukraine

NATO’s Secretary General visited Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.   NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday made a surprise visit...

NATO continues to support Ukraine
foto: www.senat.ro
Today in the News Tuesday, 15 April 2025

Senate tightens legislation against drugged drivers

Given that the number of drivers caught drugged behind the wheel has increased significantly, the Romanian Senate announces additional measures,...

Senate tightens legislation against drugged drivers
Today in the News Tuesday, 15 April 2025

Vulnerable energy consumers in Romania

The Ministry of Energy, together with the Ministry of Labor, will establish a support mechanism for vulnerable consumers, to be implemented as of...

Vulnerable energy consumers in Romania
Today in the News Monday, 14 April 2025

Reactions to the missile attack in Sumy

Until the increasingly improbable conclusion of a truce, Russia’s invading troops are continuing their bloody onslaught in Ukraine. Russian...

Reactions to the missile attack in Sumy
Today in the News Monday, 14 April 2025

Romania at Expo 2025 Osaka

  Romania, alongside 159 countries and regions, takes part for six months in the Osaka World Expo. The theme of this year’s event, opened on...

Romania at Expo 2025 Osaka
Today in the News Friday, 11 April 2025

Too many bears in Romania?

Romania has the largest population of bears in Europe, about 12,000 specimens, while the optimal number is 4,000. This is the main conclusion of a...

Too many bears in Romania?

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company