Moldova’s Constitutional Court Confirms EU Accession Referendum Results
A Moldovan woman cleans in front of banners in favour of joining the European Union, 2024. X/ @GlobalWatchCGTN
November 1, 2024 Hour: 7:03 am
Following the Oct. 20 vote, the Central Electoral Commission forwarded them to the Court for final confirmation.
On Thursday evening, Moldova’s Constitutional Court confirmed the results of the Oct. 20 referendum, approving the country’s path toward European Union (EU) accession.
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The court’s decision, announced by its president, Domnica Manole, marks a significant step in Moldova’s EU integration.
The referendum asked citizens if they backed a constitutional amendment for Moldova’s EU accession. With a voter turnout of 50.72 percent, 1,532,264 ballots were cast. Of these, 749,719 supported the constitutional amendment affirming EU integration, while 739,155 opposed it.
The amendment draft includes two new paragraphs asserting Moldova’s European identity and the irreversibility of its EU integration. The initiative, led by President Maia Sandu and backed by 46 parliamentary members, aims to establish EU membership as a strategic priority.
Following the Oct. 20 vote, the Central Electoral Commission validated the results on Oct. 25, forwarding them to the Constitutional Court for final confirmation.
In the run-up to the election, supporters of a rapprochement with the European Union pointed out that the European Commission had a “Marshall Plan” of 1.8 billion euros to be invested over three years to double the national economy in the next decade.
On the other hand, critics of EU membership argued that Moldova would no longer be a sovereign country, farmers would not be able to compete in European markets, foreigners would have the right to buy land, and accesion to the EU would be a prelude to NATO membership.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: Xinhua – EFE
