Presidential elections and a referendum on joining the EU are taking place in Moldova.

Presidential elections and a referendum on EU membership are taking place in Moldova

On Sunday, October 20, voting is underway in Moldova for the presidential elections and the referendum regarding EU accession.

This is reported by "Voice of America".

The main frontrunner in the elections is pro-Western candidate Maia Sandu, who, according to polls, "holds a significant lead over her opponents." However, if she fails to secure 50% of the votes, a second round of elections will take place on November 3. It is likely that her opponent will be Alexander Stoianoglo, the former prosecutor general, backed by the pro-Russian "Party of Socialists."

Additionally, the referendum addresses whether "to enshrine the goal of EU membership in the country's constitution." Sandu actively supports this idea, hoping for widespread backing.

According to her, "every vote matters, regardless of the voter's location." The majority of the population, according to surveys, supports EU accession; however, five candidates in the elections are calling for a vote against or a boycott of the referendum, labeling it a "political maneuver."

For the referendum results to be recognized, valid voter turnout must be at least one-third of registered voters.

The elections are occurring amid accusations of Russian interference. Police stated that "Ilan Shor, a Moldovan fugitive businessman living in Russia, attempted to bribe 130,000 voters to vote against EU membership and support the pro-Russian candidate." Shor denies the allegations, although he has been convicted in absentia for fraud.

The police also reported that "a network preparing for civil unrest in Moldova was uncovered, with hundreds of people being trained in Russia." Despite these incidents, authorities are confident that "the voting results will not be significantly distorted by external influences."

Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Kristina Gerasimova accused Russia of a "large-scale campaign to destabilize the political situation in the country." She stated that "Moscow has spent about 100 million euros attempting to disrupt the presidential elections and the referendum on Moldova's EU membership."