CHISINAU: Moldova’s pro-EU incumbent Maia Sandu on Sunday (Nov 3) gained a tense presidential runoff, beating her rival backed by a pro-Russian occasion in what she described as a “lesson in democracy”.
The election within the ex-Soviet republic that lies sandwiched between war-torn Ukraine and the European Union has been overshadowed by allegations of meddling by Moscow.
The important thing vote passed off simply two weeks after a referendum backed becoming a member of the EU by a razor-thin margin.
Sandu stood at 54.94 per cent of the vote in opposition to 45.06 per cent for Alexandr Stoianoglo, who’s supported by the pro-Russian Socialists and whom Sandu fired as prosecutor basic final yr, in line with near-complete outcomes printed by the election fee.
“Right this moment, expensive Moldovans, you will have given a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in historical past books … Freedom, fact, and justice have prevailed,” Sandu declared.
“HONEST VOTE”
Earlier, the 52-year-old former World Financial institution economist thanked jubilant supporters for “their sincere vote”.
Her rival Stoianoglo, 57, urged folks “to stay calm, whatever the figures”.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Sandu on her re-election victory and the nation’s “European future”, saying it took “a uncommon type of power to beat the challenges you’ve got confronted on this election”.
French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned democracy had “triumphed over all interference and all manouevres”.
Like in Georgia, one other ex-Soviet nation the place the ruling occasion gained a contested parliamentary election final weekend, Russia has been accused of seeking to sway voters. Moscow has denied the allegations.
Moldovan authorities reported “assaults, provocations and makes an attempt at destabilisation” on Sunday.
Police mentioned they have been investigating Russia’s alleged use of “organised transportation” to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Türkiye so folks dwelling in Russia may vote at Moldovan missions in these nations.
Cyberattacks and faux bomb threats additionally focused out-of-country voting operations, authorities mentioned.
Turnout was greater than within the first spherical on Oct 20, when Sandu got here out forward with 42.5 per cent and runner-up Stoianoglo obtained 26 per cent.
“It is extremely essential (to vote) as a result of a change towards the higher issues … (We would like) Moldova to be a European nation,” Natalia Grajdeanu, 45, a marriage planner dwelling in Eire, informed AFP as she voted in Chisinau.
However others expressed reluctance. Grigore Gritcan, a retired railway employee from the pro-Russian separatist area of Transnistria, mentioned the ruling occasion is “deceiving” voters.
“Let there be peace, what we’ve now will not be peace. Individuals don’t have anything to eat, no work,” he informed AFP.
Sandu utilized for Moldova to affix the EU after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Accession negotiations formally opened in June.
Within the Oct 20 referendum, 50.35 per cent backed EU membership, with Sandu blaming “overseas interference” for the slim outcome within the nation of two.6 million folks.
Police mentioned they uncovered a Russian vote-buying scheme that would have affected as much as 1 / 4 of the ballots.
Casting his vote on Sunday, Stoianoglo mentioned he had “no relations with the Kremlin”. Whereas he additionally favours becoming a member of the EU, he boycotted the referendum.
“DEPENDANCE ON THE OUTSIDE”
Moldova is deeply polarised.
A big diaspora and the capital largely favour becoming a member of the EU, whereas rural areas and the pro-Russian separatist areas of Transnistria and Gagauzia are in opposition to.
Sandu misplaced within the territory of Moldova itself, election outcomes confirmed, together with her owing her victory to the diaspora.
“That is what tipped the election,” mentioned Florent Parmentier, a political scientist at Paris-based Sciences Po, noting Sandu’s “dependence on the skin”.
To take care of its pro-EU course, Moldova wants “a number of assist” given “the hybrid battle waged by Russia”, in line with Andrei Curararu, an analyst on the Chisinau-based WatchDog assume tank.
“It won’t succeed by itself,” he mentioned, earlier citing “unprecedented strain” with greater than US$100 million estimated to have been spent on “destabilisation actions”.
