The iData Barometer for October 2024 shows a decrease in the pro-Europeans compared to the previous survey. Asked if they are for or against the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Union, 50.3% of those polled said they are in favor and 44.2% gave a negative answer. 5.5% do not know or do not answer.
In a news conference hosted by IPN, Mihai Bologan, director general of the sociological company Data Inteligente, said that according to previous polls, 55% of those surveyed were in favor of joining the European Union and 35% were against. There was also a particular number of undecided people, but the situation has changed slightly.
“The number of those who are pro-European has decreased. Anyway, they are greater in number. 50.3% are in favor of Moldova’s accession to the European Union. Another 44.2% are against. Here I have to make a small remark. Those who voted “Yes” in the referendum are not necessarily those who are pro-European because some citizens believe that changes in the Constitution are not necessary. On the other hand, there is quite a lot of evidence that part of the votes in the referendum were bought. Respectively, the result is flawed,” explained the director of iData.
According to him, it is known from polls that more citizens of the Republic of Moldova are pro-European, but the balance has naturally changed compared to what it was a month ago. The gap between those who are for and those who against has narrowed.
“Somehow, it turns out that some of those who were for are now undecided or against and many of those who are undecided are now against. We find more pro-Europeans in the central regions. Soroca region differs a little from the general landscape, but it also depends on the localities that were included in the survey. Those who are against are mostly from the south of the country and also from the northwest. In the central part to the north, there are also quite many anti-Europeans,” said Mihai Bologan.
A question that is more seldom included in the surveys is whether the Moldovans would like the Republic of Moldova to join the Eurasian Economic Union. 40.8% of the respondents said they are in favor, 46.9% said they are against, and 12% do not know or do not answer.
“These data show a certain attitude of the citizens. More Moldovans are against joining the Eurasian Economic Union. A month ago, we asked respondents if they wanted closer relations with Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union, and then we had a higher percentage of respondents with positive responses than now. Respectively, the Moldovans somehow, from a particular perspective, would like closer relations with Russia, but not necessarily the accession to this economic union,” said the iData director. According to him, it is very likely that many respondents do not know what this union means.
The survey covered a sample of 1,005 people from 323 localities and was conducted during October 25-29. The maximum sampling error is 3%. The data collection methodology was mixed. 60% of the questionnaires were filled out by phone, 20% – online, and 20% – face-to-face.
iData Barometer: 50.3% of respondents are in favor of joining EU
