"We commend Moldova for successfully conducting first round of presidential elections and the constitutional EU referendum - despite Russian hybrid attacks," the Polish foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
"Poland will consequently stay the course in supporting Moldova in its modernization efforts and on the EU path," it added in a social media post.
On Monday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk hailed Moldova's pro-European vote and praised its President Maia Sandu after preliminary results showed that over 50 percent of citizens said "yes" in a referendum on the country's bid to join the EU.
Moldova's President Maia Sandu casts her ballot in the country's presidential election and EU membership referendum on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. Photo: EPA/DUMITRU DORU
"Infuriate Moscow, impress Europe, save her country once again - that’s who Maia Sandu is," Tusk said in an X post on Monday.
"A great leader and a brave nation," he added.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has congratulated "the people of Moldova," praising the country's pro-European course.
"In the face of Russia’s hybrid tactics, Moldova shows that it is independent, it is strong and it wants a European future," von der Leyen said on X on Monday.
Sandu said on Monday that Moldovans had won a crucial first battle shaping their future, as a referendum on the country's aspirations to join the EU was on course to yield a narrow majority "yes" vote of just over 50 percent, the Reuters news agency reported.
Speaking at a news briefing, the Moldovan leader condemned an outside attempt to buy votes to influence the referendum, calling it an attack on the country's sovereignty, according to Reuters.
She added that Moldova needed to do more to combat corruption, it reported.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP