Moldova votes for president, EU path amid Russian interference allegations

As the warfare successful neighbouring Ukraine rages, the duplicate votes volition find if the erstwhile Soviet republic leaves Russia’s orbit and embarks connected the agelong process of EU accession talks.

Moldovans are voting successful a statesmanlike predetermination and a European Union referendum that volition find whether the country, which neighbours Ukraine, remains connected a pro-Western way amid allegations of Russian interference.

The duplicate votes connected Sunday are taking spot astatine a captious clip arsenic Moldova is vying to articulation the EU and amid allegations of meddling by Russia.

As the warfare successful Ukraine continues unabated since Russia’s full-scale penetration successful 2022, the erstwhile Soviet republic is hoping to permission Moscow’s orbit and embark connected the agelong process of EU accession talks.

Polls bespeak that the West-aligned incumbent, Maia Sandu, has a sizeable pb implicit her 10 rivals connected the ballot.

The contention volition spell to a November 3 run-off if she fails to scope the 50 percent threshold needed for an outright win. Sandu, from the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), would apt look Alexandr Stoianoglo, a erstwhile authoritative wide backed by the traditionally pro-Russian Party of Socialists, if the ballot goes to a 2nd round.

Voters volition besides take “yes” oregon “no” successful a referendum connected whether to enshrine successful the country’s constitution its way towards the 27-nation EU.

Voting volition extremity astatine 9pm (18:00 GMT) and partial results are expected by astir 10pm (19:00 GMT).

Sandu is hoping that Moldovans volition ballot “yes” successful the EU referendum.

“Our destiny is decided connected Sunday. Everyone’s ballot matters, nary substance wherever we are,” she wrote connected Facebook connected Friday.

President Maia Sandu, the favourite to unafraid different word successful office, casts her ballots successful Chisinau, Moldova [Vladislav Culiomza/Reuters]

Polls by WatchDog, a Chisinau-based deliberation tank, amusement a wide majority, with much than 50 percent supporting the EU path. The referendum needs a one-third turnout to beryllium valid.

Five statesmanlike candidates person told their supporters to ballot “no” oregon boycott, saying the timing of the referendum is solely to guarantee Sandu’s election.

Sandu has been touring the country, saying joining the EU volition assistance amended conditions successful 1 of Europe’s poorest countries.

Moldovans are presently facing precocious vigor prices and inflation, portion the minimum wage remains low, astatine 5,000 lei ($283).

The state of 3 cardinal radical has alternated betwixt pro-Western and pro-Russian paths since the 1991 Soviet breakup. It is besides location to the pro-Russia breakaway portion of Transnistria.

Ties with Moscow person deteriorated since Sandu came to powerfulness successful December 2020. Her authorities has condemned Russia’s penetration of Ukraine, accused Moscow of plotting her overthrow and diversified vigor proviso aft Russia reduced state supplies.

Vote-tampering accusations

The elections person been marred by allegations of meddling by Russia.

“Our state is astatine a crossroads … a radical of thieves are trying to deceive people, committedness them money, springiness them mendacious information,” Prime Minister Dorin Recean said, urging Moldovans “to beryllium vigilant”.

A antheral votes successful Chisinau, Moldova [Vladislav Culiomza/Reuters]

Police person accused Ilan Shor, a fugitive tycoon who lives successful Russia, of trying to wage disconnected astatine slightest 130,000 voters to ballot “no” and backmost a circumstantial candidate.

Shor, who was jailed successful absentia for fraud and theft and is nether Western sanctions, has openly offered to wage Moldovans to transportation others to ballot “no” and backmost “our candidate”. He denies wrongdoing and says the wealth is his.

On Thursday, instrumentality enforcement agencies besides said they had uncovered a strategy successful which hundreds of radical were allegedly taken to Russia to acquisition grooming to signifier riots and civilian unrest.

Russia denies interfering successful Moldova and has agelong accused its authorities of “Russophobia”.

Police main Viorel Cernauteanu told the Reuters quality bureau connected Saturday they had done everything to forestall immoderate power connected the vote.

“There volition beryllium immoderate benignant of interaction successful immoderate case, but I deliberation it volition not power the votes overall,” helium said.

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies