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2024 Moldovan European Union membership referendum

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2024 Moldovan European Union membership referendum
20 October 2024
Do you support the amendment of the Constitution with a view to the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union?

A nationwide referendum was held in Moldova on 20 October 2024[1] on whether the country should amend the Constitution of Moldova to include the Moldovan citizens' wish for European Union membership, in order to prevent future governments from shifting the country away from its pro-European trajectory.[2][3] The election occurs on the same day as the 2024 Moldovan presidential election.

Incumbent president Maia Sandu is campaigning for the "yes" side in the referendum.[4]

Turnout must be at least 33.33% for the referendum to be considered valid.

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For721,76050.00
Against721,67250.00
Total1,443,432100.00
Source: pv.cec.md (97.66% counted)

Background

See also: Accession of Moldova to the European Union and Moldova–European Union relations

In March 2022, following Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Moldova submitted an application for EU membership.[5] Subsequently, in June of the same year, Moldova was granted the status of a candidate country by the European Council.[6] In December 2023, the European Council announced its decision to open accession negotiations with Moldova.[7] Moldova set a target date of 2030 for EU accession.[8]

President Sandu had announced in 2023 her intention to seek re-election.[2] Additionally, Sandu announced the launch of an online platform aimed at promoting the referendum and advocating for the benefits of EU membership to the country.[2] Observers noted Sandu is gearing up to focus her efforts on EU integration, an area where she and her party PAS have experienced consistent success in order to be re-elected.[9]

The Parliament of Moldova will determine the date for the referendum, although Sandu expressed her hope that it will coincide with the presidential elections scheduled for the autumn. Sandu said; "It is important to hold a referendum now because it is a historic occasion, awaited for three decades. The European Union member states are more open than ever, we have the necessary political will for this step, and our citizens want to be part of the EU."[2]

On 21 March 2024, the Parliament endorsed a resolution of 54-to-0 to continue the efforts to join the European Union. The declaration asserted, "Only joining Europe can ensure the future of the country as a sovereign, neutral, and fully democratic state". During the vote, all opposition parties in parliament walked out.[10] On 16 May, Parliament approved the holding of the referendum in conjunction with the presidential election on 20 October.[11][12]

Gagauzia

On 2 February 2014, the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia held two referendums on European integration. In one, 98.4% voted in favour of joining the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, while in the second 97.2% opposed further integration with the EU. 98.9% also supported the proposition that Gagauzia could declare independence if Moldova unified with Romania.[13] There is concern in Gagauzia that Moldova's integration with the EU could lead to such a unification with EU member Romania, which is unpopular in the autonomous region.[14]

Question

The Romanian-language voting ballot for the referendum. There were also ballots in Russian, Gagauz, Bulgarian, in the Romani language and in Ukrainian.

The text of the question put to the vote was:[15]

Susțineți modificarea Constituției în vederea aderării Republicii Moldova la Uniunea Europeană? (Do you support the amendment of the Constitution with a view to the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union?)

The options of the vote were "yes" and "no".[15]

Campaign

At a meeting in Moscow on 21 April 2024, five opposition parties, namely the banned Șor Party, the Revival Party, Chance, Victorie and the Alternative Force for Saving Moldova, announced the formation of an alliance called Victory to oppose EU membership and seek closer relations with Russia. The leader of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, also expressed support for the movement, which revolves around Șor Party leader Ilan Shor. Moldovan Infrastructure Minister Andrei Spînu called the members of the coalition "traitors" and suggested that it had been formed "right next to the Kremlin".[16]

Moldovan authorities have accused Russian-trained groups of plotting to destabilise the exercise. In September 2024, incidents of vandalism on the offices of the Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova and on the public broadcaster Teleradio-Moldova were attributed to the said groups.[17] In October 2024, authorities announced the discovery of a plot by Ilan Shor involving $15 million in funds from Russia that were distributed to around 130,000 people in order to bribe voters into selecting anti-Western decisions and spread disinformation against the European Union on social media, following raids on 26 locations nationwide.[18][19] Russia denied the accusations.[20] Security checks were strengthened at Chișinău International Airport following an influx of passengers from Russia carrying large amounts of cash believed to be connected with the plot.[21]

Later that month, Moldova accused Russia of plotting to bus in voters to polling stations at the Moldovan Embassy in Moscow. In response, the EU imposed sanctions on five people and one entity involved in the influence operation, while the United States accused Russia of spending “millions of dollars” to support its preferred parties and spreading disinformation online. The Russian foreign ministry in turn accused Moldova of printing only 10,000 ballots for 500,000 eligible Moldovans living in Russia.[22]

On 17 October, Moldovan authorities announced the discovery of another plot in which 100 youths were trained in Moscow, Serbia and Bosnia by private military groups to foment civil unrest, including using nonlethal weapons to create “mass disorder” during the election and referendum, adding that four people had been arrested and that some of them received several thousand euros in payments.[23]

Referendum

Approximately 2.8 million ballots were issued for the referendum and the presidential election. For the first time in Moldova, ballots were featured not only in Romanian but also in as many as five minority languages. Thus, 2,092,641 ballots were in Romanian, 631,979 in Russian, 3,400 in Gagauz, 991 in Bulgarian, 870 in the Romani language and 115 in Ukrainian. For voters in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria, 90,000 ballots were issued, of which 45,000 were in Romanian and the rest in Russian.[24] Voting was held from 07:00 to 21:00.[25]

For the referendum and the election, 234 polling stations were opened abroad. The first vote in both was cast by Ludmila Vizdoagă, a woman who at the time had lived in South Korea for 19 years. She traveled from Seoul to Tokyo to vote in the polling station for Japan, which was the first to be opened.[24] A polling station was also set up in Varnița to serve voters from Transnistria.[25]

The referendum was boycotted by several Moldovan political figures, including Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) presidential candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo,[26] Our Party (PN) candidate Renato Usatîi[27] and PSRM leader and former president Igor Dodon.[28]

Registered political parties

The Central Electoral Commission of Moldova has registered the parties that will take part in the referendum campaign. Of the 15 parties officially registered as of 20 September, 13 are in favor of the YES option and two are in favor of the NO option. Also, some parties such as the PSRM or the Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova (PDCM) decided to boycott the referendum.[29]

Choice Parties Political orientation Leader Ref
checkY Yes Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) Liberalism Igor Grosu [30]
National Alternative Movement (MAN) Social democracy Ion Ceban [30]
European Social Democratic Party (PSDE) Social democracy Ion Sula [30]
Together Bloc (Împreună)[a] Liberalism Octavian Țîcu [30]
Ecologist Green Party (PV) Green politics Anatolie Prohnițchi [30]
Respect Moldova Movement (MRM) Social conservatism Eugeniu Nichiforciuc [30]
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Social liberalism Arina Spătaru [30]
Coalition for Unity and Welfare (CUB) Liberalism Igor Munteanu [30]
Democracy at Home Party (PPDA) Populism Vasile Costiuc [30]
Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) Romanian nationalism Boris Volosatîi [30]
We Political Party (NOI) Social democracy Vladimir Dachi [30]
Party of National Reunification "Acasă" (PRN) Moldovan–Romanian unionism Valentin Dolganiuc [30]
Popular Will Party (PVP) Conservatism Nicolae Gîrbu [30]
Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) (excluded from campaign) Conservatism Vladimir Filat [31]
☒N No Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) Communism Vladimir Voronin [30]
Revival Party (PR) Social conservatism Natalia Parasca [30]
Chance (PȘ) (excluded from campaign) Liberalism Alexei Lungu [29]
Gray X symbolNg Boycott Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) Democratic socialism Igor Dodon [29]
Party of Development and Consolidation (PDCM) Christian democracy Ion Chicu [29]
No position Our Party (PN) Populism Renato Usatîi [29]

Aftermath

President Sandu attributed the close result of the referendum to foreign interference and described it as an "unprecedented assault on democracy", adding that her government had evidence that 300,000 votes had been bought.[32]

Notes

  1. ^ Bloc consisting of the Dignity and Truth Platform, the League of Cities and Towns (LOS) and the Party of Changes [ro]

References

  1. ^ "Moldova announces presidential elections, EU accession referendum for October". TVP World. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Moldova to hold EU accession referendum in autumn". SeeNews. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Moldovan president launches campaign to promote EU referendum". Reuters. 18 March 2024. The referendum would vote on enshrining Moldova's EU ambitions in the constitution ensuring that the bid is not derailed by future governments.
  4. ^ "Moldovan president launches campaign to promote EU referendum". Reuters. 18 March 2024. President Maia Sandu launched a campaign to promote an upcoming referendum on Moldova's push to join the European Union on Monday, calling on civil leaders to rally support for the country's accession to the 27-member bloc.
  5. ^ "Moldova officially applies for EU membership". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  6. ^ "EU leaders grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status". POLITICO. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  7. ^ euser (17 December 2023). "European Council decides to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, grants candidate status to Georgia". EU4Digital. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Moldova sets 2030 as EU accession target at massive pro-EU rally in Chisinau". 22 May 2023.
  9. ^ Solovyov, Vladimir. "Moldova's Sandu Stakes Reelection on EU Integration". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
  10. ^ "Moldovan Parliament backs bid to join EU, but divisions remain". Euractiv. 22 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Moldova to hold referendum on joining EU in October". The Kyiv Independent. 16 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Moldova To Hold Presidential Vote, EU Referendum In October". RFE/RL. 16 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Gagauzia Voters Reject Closer EU Ties For Moldova". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  14. ^ "Concerned About EU Integration, Moldova's Gagauz Region Holds Disputed Referendum". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Pliant informativ pentru alegătorii din localitățile din stânga Nistrului (RO/RU)" (PDF). Comisia Electorală Centrală a Republicii Moldova (in Romanian). 8 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Moldovan opposition announces new election bloc at Moscow event". Reuters. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Moldovan broadcaster's headquarters targeted in pre-election vandalism spree". The Kyiv Independent. 29 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Moldova uncovers $15 million Russian-backed plot to influence upcoming elections with bribes and disinformation". The Kyiv Independent. 4 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Moldova Uncovers 'Unprecedented' Pro-Russia Vote Rigging". The Moscow Times. 3 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Kremlin Denies Meddling in Moldova's Elections". The Moscow Times. 13 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Russian cash-for-votes flows into Moldova as nation heads to polls". BBC. 19 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Moldova Says Russia Planning to Illegally Bus In Voters to Moscow Polling Stations". The Moscow Times. 16 October 2024.
  23. ^ "EU candidate Moldova to hold two pivotal votes as officials denounce Russian 'hybrid attacks'". Associated Press. 19 October 2024.
  24. ^ a b Cotoros, Alina (20 October 2024). "Premieră la prezidențiale și referendumul din Republica Moldova: buletine de vot în șase limbi". Adevărul (in Romanian).
  25. ^ a b "Moldovans elect president, vote on EU path as claims of Russian meddling spike". France 24. 20 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Candidatul Partidului Socialist la președinție a refuzat să voteze la refendumul privind aderarea la UE". Adevărul (in Romanian). 20 October 2024.
  27. ^ "După Stoianoglo, și Renato Usatîi a refuzat să voteze la refendumul privind aderarea la UE" (in Romanian). Euronews România. 20 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Igor Dodon: Nu am votat pentru referendum. Consider acest lucru ilegal". Știri.md (in Romanian). 20 October 2024.
  29. ^ a b c d e Rotari, Iurie (25 September 2024). "Ce partide vor face agitație în campania pentru referendumul despre aderarea R. Moldova la UE". Radio Europa Liberă (in Romanian). Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Înregistrarea participanților la referendum". a.cec.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Liderul PLDM, Vlad Filat, spune că nu va putea candida la prezidențiale". Radio Europa Liberă (in Romanian). 26 August 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  32. ^ "Moldova's EU referendum result hangs in balance". BBC. 21 October 2024.
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