Moldovans have begun casting their ballots in two key votes with the potential to determine whether the EU candidate country bordering Ukraine will maintain its pro-Western course on against the background of allegations of attempted Russian interference in the election process, the Associated Press reported.
Incumbent Maya Sandu is the favorite to win a second term in office in the presidential race, which pits 11 contenders against each other. Voters will also vote with "Yes" or "No" of a referendum on whether Moldova's European path should be written into the Constitution.
According to data from the Chisinau-based think tank "Watch Dog" (WatchDog) EU membership is supported by a clear majority of over 50%. For the referendum to be valid, the voter turnout must be at least one third of the total number of voters.
Voting stations opened at 07:00 and are expected to close at 21:00.