The country’s authorities, she said, had “clear evidence” of “fraud on an unprecedented scale” designed to undermine the democratic process. “We are waiting for the final results, and we will respond with firm decisions.”
As the ballot tally neared completion, campaign insiders warned that diaspora voters living abroad in the EU were yet to be included in the count. However, two officials with knowledge of the process spoke of increasing concern the pro-EU campaign had failed.
More than 1.5 million people, or 51 percent of the electorate, cast ballots in the nationwide referendum — well above the one-third required to be considered valid.
In a simultaneous presidential election, Sandu, who is seeking a second term in office, topped the list of candidates with `37 percent of the vote and 90 percent of ballots counted. Her closest rival, pro-Kremlin Socialist Party politician Alexandr Stoianoglo, came second with 29 percent.
Having apparently failed to secure an outright majority, Sandu now faces Stoianoglo in a second round — an embarrassing prospect for the incumbent, who had been expected to win by a large margin.
Speaking to POLITICO earlier this week, Moldova’s deputy prime minister and EU integration chief, Cristina Gherasimov, said the government viewed EU membership as “existential” given the threats from Moscow. “There is no plan B” to winning the referendum, she added.