Nation Votes to Join EU, Tally Shows
Maltese voters have endorsed joining the European Union, according to official results in the first referendum held among 10 nations invited to become members next year.
The hand-counted tally from Saturday’s balloting showed 53.6% voted yes while 46.3% voted no. The narrow margin apparently reflected concerns that joining the EU might jeopardize the Mediterranean island nation’s fiercely prized independence.
Turnout was 91%, with only about 20,000 of the approximately 290,000 eligible voters failing to cast ballots.
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