Moldova Enshrines EU Membership in Constitution

The results of the referendum on Moldova's European integration have been officially added to the Constitution. The Constitutional Court of Moldova's decision to recognize the referendum results was published in the official government bulletin, making it effective.

The Constitution's preamble will now include two new statements:

• Affirming the European identity of the people of the Republic of Moldova and the irreversibility of the European trajectory of the Republic of Moldova;

• Establishing integration into the European Union as a strategic objective of the Republic of Moldova.

In the October 20 referendum, 50.35% of citizens voted in favor of pursuing European integration. The pro-EU votes were 11,277 more than those against.

At the same time, Moldova held presidential elections, in which the pro-European incumbent, President Maia Sandu, won. However, the pro-Russian Socialist Party of Moldova, which backed Sandu's opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo, has refused to acknowledge the election results, claiming Sandu’s presidency is illegitimate.

On October 20, Moldova held presidential elections and a referendum on joining the European Union. During this time, the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Russia of creating artificial queues at polling stations, while Deputy Prime Minister Kristina Gerasimova claimed Moscow was conducting a large-scale campaign to destabilize the country, alleging that Russia spent around 100 million euros to disrupt the elections and referendum.