Moldova's EU accession: a narrow victory for voters
“Even a narrow victory is still a victory,” commented ex-Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu on the preliminary results of the referendum held on October 20.
The results indicate that just over 50 percent of Moldovans support the country's accession to the community bloc, while approximately 49.5 percent oppose it. Narrow majorities have played a crucial role in shaping the destinies of several countries, noted the former head of diplomacy from Chișinău, who cited the examples of Sweden and Great Britain.
“Sweden joined the EU in 1994 with 52% of the votes in favour, while Great Britain left the Union in 2016 with the same percentage, 52%. Narrow majorities have shaped the destinies of these nations. Today, Sweden is a strong member of the European Union, while Great Britain has respected the will of its citizens. Even a narrow victory is still a victory. In democracies, those who lose accept the outcome. Both winners and losers bear the responsibility to work together, not to deepen divisions but to build a better future. Each side learns from the lessons of this process,” wrote Nicu Popescu on social media.
Popescu expressed gratitude to the citizens who participated in the vote and reiterated his commitment to strengthening ties between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union. “Europe is not just a dream; it is a common project, and we will continue to strengthen Moldova's place in the Europe to which we belong.”
Following the processing of 99.68% of the minutes, the preliminary results presented by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) indicate that 50.45% of voters supported the constitutional amendment for joining the EU, while 49.55% expressed opposition.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
