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Polish PM hails Moldova's pro-EU vote

21.10.2024 15:30
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has 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.
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Moldovas President Maia Sandu casts her ballot in the countrys presidential election and EU membership referendum on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.
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.

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.

Tusk last month visited the Moldovan capital Chișinău for talks with Sandu, Prime Minister Dorin Recean and parliamentary Speaker Igor Grosu. He also addressed a special session of the Moldovan parliament.

Moldova, September 4, 2024. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Moldovan President Maia Sandu during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Chișinău. The Polish Prime Minister is on a one-day visit to the Republic of Moldova. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Moldovan President Maia Sandu meet in Chișinău on September 4, 2024. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

The Polish leader at the time underscored Moldova's significance to regional security, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

He told reporters that his visit ahead of Moldova’s October 20 presidential election and EU membership referendum aimed to bolster the country’s pro-European ambitions.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Marcin Matuszewski.