Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has congratulated the Moldovan citizens who voted for the integration of Moldova with the European Union, saying that it is „mandatory” that the result of the referendum held in Moldova be doubled by the re-election of Maia Sandu for a new presidential term.

„Congratulations to all Moldovan citizens who resisted Moscow’s incredible pressures and managed to put their country on the good side of history. The razor-sharp result of the referendum on integration with the European Union is a proof that we need to intensify our efforts to convince the citizens of the province and rural areas, where Russia has more propaganda efficiency, that the future of Moldova is only with the West. It is mandatory that this result be doubled by the re-election of Mrs Maia Sandu for a new presidential term,” Ciolacu wrote in a social media post on Monday.

According to him, with Maia Sandu as president and with a pro-European government, it will be increasingly clear that „Russia’s cold flame will be definitively extinguished in Chisinau.”

„Romania is fully standing with the Republic of Moldova,” the prime minister also said.

According to preliminary results after the count of the votes of 99.32% of the total 2,219 polling stations, just over 50% of the participants in the referendum – 50.37% – answered „YES” to the question „Do you support amending the Constitution to allow the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union?” while 49.63% opposed this initiative.

Also according to preliminary results after the count of the votes of 98.15% of the total 2,219 polling stations, the incumbent President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, who is seeking re-election backed by the ruling Action and Solidarity Party, won 41.83% of the votes (633,403 votes), while the candidate of the Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova, Alexandr Stoianoglo, garnered 26.40% (399,740 votes).

AGERPRES