Moldova votes amid Russian influence and EU integration debate
Moldovans vote on Sundays in the presidential elections and constitutional referendums. The referendum question is about integrating European integration into the constitution.
Polling stations opened at 9 AM local time (2 AM Eastern Time). Voting will continue until 11 PM (4 PM Eastern Time).
In Moldova, 2,221 polling stations have been established, including 30 designated for citizens residing in the unrecognized region of Transnistria. Residents of the separatist region can vote at stations in areas controlled by Chișinău.
Abroad, 231 polling stations have been set up, over 100 more than in the previous elections.
According to the CEC, in the Chișinău district, including the suburbs, voters can exercise their right to vote in 306 polling stations. A total of 2.8 million ballots have been printed for voting within the country and 850,000 for voting abroad.
For the first time, in six countries where it is allowed by regulations – namely the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland – Moldovan citizens have the option of postal voting.
11 candidates
There are 11 candidates in the election: Alexandr Stoianoglo, Maia Sandu, Renato Usatii, Vasile Tarlev, Irina Vlah, Ion Chicu, Andrei Nastase, Octavian Ticu, Victoria Furtuna, Tudor Ulianovschi, and Natalia Morari.
In addition to the presidential election ballot, each voter will also receive a ballot for the constitutional referendum. The referendum question concerns adding Moldova's accession to the EU to the fundamental law. The referendum will be valid if at least one-third of the voters participate.
Elections under supervision
Electioneering is prohibited on election day. The elections will be observed by 2,061 national and international observers accredited by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).
1,277 observers represent five national organizations, with the most people sent by the Promo-Lex Association.
The CEC has also accredited 784 international observers. The largest mission is a 253-member group from ODHIR/OSCE.
Moscow intensifies actions
Although most Moldovans support joining the EU, since Russia attacked Ukraine, openly pro-Russian politics no longer fit within the Moldovan mainstream. Kremlin-oriented forces have remained active, playing on pro-Russian sentiments and engaging in illegal activities.
Just before the elections in Moldova, Russian hybrid actions became even more intense, aimed at undermining the pro-Western government's policies. These actions include information campaigns and illegal transfers of money into the country to support pro-Russian activists and politicians and to buy votes on an unprecedented scale.
At the beginning of October, the police reported that in September alone, Russia illegally transferred over 15 million USD to Moldova to bribe voters. The money entered the country through intermediaries from Russian bank accounts, and coordination was carried out through bots on Telegram.
