Moldova’s crucial referendum on joining the European Union is too close to call, partial results showed Monday, as President Maia Sandu condemned an “unprecedented assault” on the country’s democracy.

Moldova’s President Maia Sandu decried an “unprecedented assault” on the democratic process by “foreign forces” on Sunday as a referendum on EU membership remained too close to call even with just a few thousand ballots left to count.

Moldova's referendum on whether to change its constitution and commit to joining the EU hangs in the balance, with the No and Yes votes neck and neck. With Yes on 49.9% and No on 50.1% - with 97% of the vote counted - it is a result few were expecting,

A referendum on Moldova joining the EU passed with a razor-thin majority on Monday as pro-Brussels President Maia Sandu blamed the outcome on foreign meddling in a veiled reference to

Nearly 95% of votes were counted in the EU referendum that asks voters to choose whether to enshrine in the country's constitution a path toward the EU. About 52% of a total 1.2 million ballots voted "no,

The first batch of preliminary results indicated the referendum on Moldova's EU future was a "no," but a last-minute spike in votes in favour from the eastern European country's diaspora evened out the score.

A referendum on Moldova joining the EU hung in the balance early Monday with almost all votes counted, as President Maia Sandu blamed an "unprecedented assault on our country's freedom and democracy" in a vote marred by fears of Russian meddling amid the war in neighbouring Ukraine.