Moldova holds election and referendum on EU membership
Tengrinews.kz - Moldova is simultaneously conducting presidential elections and a referendum on joining the European Union, according to Deutsche Welle.
Around 2,000 polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time, and voters are provided with two ballots. The first, gray ballot lists the presidential candidates, while the second, purple ballot contains proposed constitutional amendments and asks whether voters support changing the constitution to enable Moldova's EU membership.
Two key events to watch in the Eastern Europe today:Moldova holds Presidential elections under Russia's meddling, reports on Russian cash for voter buying and bribery have been flooding the media. The voter turnout seems around 6% for now. Thread below and keep an eye.Today,… pic.twitter.com/t8fqc4ZhmF
— Katie Shoshiashvili (@KShoshiashvili) October 20, 2024
According to reports, a voter turnout of at least 33 percent is required for the voting to be considered valid. The new president will be the candidate who receives an absolute majority of the votes. If no candidate achieves this, which is likely, a second round of presidential elections will be held in two weeks.
Polling stations will close at 8:00 p.m., with preliminary results expected by 9:00 p.m. local time.
The gray ballot features 11 candidates for the presidency, but only two are drawing significant attention: the incumbent pro-European president Maia Sandu, who is running for a second term, and her main rival, former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo, backed by the largest pro-Russian opposition party, the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova.
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