Photo by Sasha Pleshco on Unsplash
MEPs have greeted the outcome of elections in Moldova, saying that while the result was close they are happy its people didn’t succumb to Moscow’s poisoned messages.
That was the blunt message from the ECR Group in the European Parliament which saluted the people of Moldova for enshrining in their constitution the goal of becoming an EU member state.
The first round of the presidential election and a constitutional referendum on EU accession were held in the Republic of Moldova on 20 October.
MEP Adam Bielan, ECR coordinator for foreign affairs, noted, “The vote was close and we saw a lot of Russian interference in the run-up to the vote.”
“We are very happy that the majority of Moldovans didn’t succumb to Moscow’s poisoned messages. It is a victory for Europe and Western values that we owe to the people of Moldova.”
Bielan added: “The Moldovan people have delivered. Now the European Union must deliver and do everything in its power to ensure that the road to accession is cleared of potholes and bumps. We should do all we can to ensure that Moldova can meet the 2030 deadline for full membership to the European Union, and that there is no backlash that leads the country into Putin’s clutches.”
“The vote buying, the funneling of money through Putin’s proxies into the accounts of ordinary voters, and Russia’s use of social media to spread disinformation and paint a threatening picture of the EU are deeply concerning. Fortunately, the Moldovan people who aspire to live freely have rejected the Kremlin’s malign rhetoric.”
The comments were broadly echoed by the European Green Party.
Thomas Waitz, co-chair of the European Greens, said, “The pro-European outcome of the constitutional referendum is a victory of the Moldovans against the Russian attempts to destabilise the country. The majority of Moldovans have consistently shown their commitment to a European future.”
Last week, the European Greens called for a yes vote and warned of the dangers of Russian interference.
The European Parliament also denounced alleged Russia’s voter bribery, cyber operations and information warfare.
European Green co-chair Mélanie Vogel added: “Russia’s electoral interference is unacceptable. People must be free to express their will. We consistently supported the European Commission’s decision to open accession negotiations with Moldova in November 2023. And we continue to support Moldova on its path towards the European Union”.
In a statement, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, a former Spanish MEP, said that, according to the preliminary findings and conclusions of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) International Election Observation Mission, the voting processes were well-managed. Contestants, he said, campaigned freely in an environment characterised by concerns over illicit foreign interference and active disinformation efforts.
The statement added, “Law enforcement authorities, many international actors and civil society have proclaimed that Moldova is the target of an ongoing ‘hybrid war’ directed from abroad that include various forms of manipulative interference to destabilise the country, illicit financing of political actors, disinformation campaigns, and cyberattacks, according to the report published by ODIHR/OSCE.”
“Russia and its proxies actively tried to undermine the democratic and voting process in Moldova. We commend the Moldovan authorities for successfully organising the election and constitutional referendum, nevertheless.”
He added, “We welcome the results of the constitutional referendum, in which the Moldovan people have expressed their desire to anchor their future in the EU.”
“The EU will closely follow developments during the second round of the presidential election on 3 November and in the run up to the parliamentary elections in 2025.”
A Commission spokesman, in a statement, said, “The European Union commends the authorities for the organisation of the electoral process and of the referendum in accordance with democratic standards.”
The EU, it said, welcomes the outcome of the referendum, adding “citizens made a historic choice to anchor their future within the European Union, despite massive interference and a hybrid campaign by Russia and its proxies to undermine the democratic vote in Moldova. This vote reflects their aspirations for a peaceful, independent, stable, democratic, and prosperous Moldova.”
