Half of Moldovans voted "yes" in Sunday's referendum on the country's European Union membership aspirations, according to preliminary results, putting the small nation caught between East and West on a path to the EU despite pressure from Russia. , reports Reuters.
After 97.66% of the votes were counted, 50% of Moldovans voted "yes", according to the results provided on the website of the Central Election Commission of Moldova.
However, the final result is still unclear, as a few hours earlier, results had shown that 57% of voters were not ready to commit to joining the EU.
Meanwhile, preliminary results show that the country will go to a runoff to elect the president.
The pro-European president Maia Sandu has won the first round of the presidential elections where, after more than 98 percent of the votes counted, Sandu is first with 41.84 percent.
In the second round, she will face the pro-Russian socialist, Alexandr Stoianoglo, who won 26.34 percent of the votes.
