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Moldovan voters have voted by a razor-thin majority to push ahead with talks to join the EU, results on Monday showed, marking a surprise upset for President Maia Sandu, who had hoped to secure resounding backing for her policy of closer integration with Europe.
The landmark referendum asked voters whether the country’s constitution should change to enshrine a commitment to joining the EU, after Moldova applied for membership in 2022. Preliminary results on Monday showed it passed by 50.18 per cent after ballots were counted from 98.65 per cent of polling stations.
Sandu also failed to secure a clear victory in a presidential election held the same day in which she hoped to become the first Moldovan president to be elected to a second term in office by popular vote.
The race will now be decided by a second-round run-off on November 3, when Sandu will face her main rival Alexandr Stoianoglo, whose candidacy has been backed by the pro-Russian socialist party.
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