CHISINAU - Moldova's pro-Western president hailed a "historic step" on Thursday after a top court recognised the results of a pivotal Oct. 20 referendum, paving the way for the country to enshrine in its constitution its wish to join the EU.

       The "Yes" camp won with a razor-thin majority of 50.35% in a vote largely swayed by pro-EU Moldovans living abroad and overshadowed by allegations of a vast vote-buying scheme aimed at inflating the "No" vote.

       "Moldova takes a historic step as the Constitutional Court ruled today to enshrine EU integration in our Constitution, reflecting the will of the people in the recent referendum," President Maia Sandu said on X.

       Flanked by Romania and Ukraine, the nation of fewer than 3 million people has alternated between pro-Western and pro-Russian sentiments since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union and a short-lived war against pro-Moscow separatists.

       The referendum was held simultaneously with a presidential election in which Sandu fell short of 50% of the vote. She now faces a Nov.3 runoff against former prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo who is backed by a traditionally pro-Russian party.

       Both the referendum and the election were marred by allegations of meddling, with Moldovan authorities accusing pro-Russian fugitive businessman Ilan Shor of paying off voters en masse.

       Shor denies wrongdoing and Russia, where he lives, denies any meddling on its part. But Shor openly offered money to people who persuaded Moldovans to vote "no" at the referendum and to oppose Sandu at the ballot box.

       He and the pro-Russian socialist party that supported Stoianoglo at the election have since urged their supporters not to recognise the referendum results.

       Moldova began its accelerated push for EU membership along with Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

       It started formal accession talks in June.

       Domnica Manole, chair of the constitutional court, said on Thursday that the amendments being made to the constitution following the referendum "do not violate the independence and sovereignty" of the country. REUTERS