Pro-Western Maia Sandu wins in Moldova

In the second round of the Republic of Moldova's presidential election, pro-Western head of state Maia Sandu won after almost all votes were counted, against Russian influence. Overview.

Three wins

The 52-year-old won 54.64% of the vote, the electoral administration in the capital Chisinau announced after counting more than 98% of the votes. Sandu's challenger, former Justice Minister Alexander Stoianoglo, who also wanted to cooperate with Russia, lost with 45.36% of the vote.

Sandu's victory was largely due to the votes of hundreds of thousands of Moldovans living abroad, especially in the European Union, who have traditionally supported the politician. The head of state of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) hopes to implement reforms during her second term in the completely impoverished agricultural country, which is a candidate for EU membership. The upcoming parliamentary elections in the summer are seen as the next political challenge. Because Sandhu can only deal with these changes by defending his current majority in the People's Assembly.

Voter turnout was higher than in the first round on October 20, at over 54%. Moldovan leaders accused Russia of massive interference on election day. The Kremlin rejected similar accusations in the first round of voting and demanded evidence.

Loser Stoanoglo calls on supporters to calm down

Among the 11 candidates in the first round, Sandhu received the most votes (42.45%). Stoianoglo ran against the Socialist Party led by former Moscow President Igor Dodon and received 25.98% of the vote.

The 57-year-old president, who won the country's majority with 51.19% of the vote, also addressed his compatriots in Chisinau in Russian, asking for calm. “Moldova needs stability and not artificial conflict,” he said. The era of hatred and division in this country must end. In his hometown of Gagauzi Autonomous Region, he even reached 97.04%.

Although Sandhu is considered the favorite, she has also been criticized for her lack of economic and social progress. Critics accuse her opponent Stoianoglo of being a puppet of corrupt oligarchs and a candidate for Moscow. Like Ukraine, the country is a candidate for EU membership, which is why the West is also watching the results closely.

reaction

So, in Europe, the election results were satisfactory. Many heads of state and EU politicians congratulated Maia Sandu. French President Macron wrote on X:

France will continue to support Moldova’s European path.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Moldovan pro-Western head of state Maia Sandu on her re-election as president.

Furthermore: “I look forward to continuing to work with you to create a European future for the Republic of Moldova and its people.”

European Parliament President Roberta Mesola also congratulated Sandu, who “fights for democracy, the rule of law and the future of Europe.” “She has shown extraordinary courage and leadership and stood up for her people,” Mesola wrote on

Polish Prime Minister Tusk also expressed optimism about the re-election of President Maia Sandu of the Republic of Moldova, but remained cautious due to the overall situation in the country. “Despite Russia's aggressive and massive interference in the election,” Tusk wrote on Platform “Let us hope that this trend will continue in other countries in the coming days and months,” he added.

Accused of interference in Russia

Maia Sandu's national security adviser, Stanislav Secrieru, accused Russia of massive election interference. On Platform X, he warned of the dangers of distorted results. Authorities were alerted. Organized transportation of voters to polling stations in Transnistria, a region separated from Moldova and home to Russian troops, was illegal, he said.

Incumbent Sandu's confidants have also published reports on organized Russian bus and charter flight transports flying voters to the Azerbaijani capital Baku, the Turkish metropolis Istanbul and the Belarusian capital Minsk.

Sekerilu also posted a video circulating on social networks in which someone allegedly held up a Moldovan passport on a plane to Minsk. There had been complaints that only two polling stations in Moscow were open for Moldovans living in Russia to vote. Sekerilu said the flight was clear evidence of widespread organized voter transportation.

Manipulate in advance

The security department of the capital Chisinau discovered in advance the disinformation and vote-buying behavior of pro-Russian forces. Several Russian-language television channels and internet platforms have been blocked in the country. On election day, people in the capital Chisinau said in conversations with reporters from the German news agency that they had received calls last week asking them to vote for Stoianoglo. Some also said they received money in return.

Sandhu also addressed the issue of buying off voters after the first round of elections. Two weeks ago, she also arranged a parallel referendum on incorporating the EU line into the country's constitution. The supporters narrowly won, and the Constitutional Court confirmed the validity of the result. Russia, on the other hand, wants to keep within its sphere of influence this agricultural country with demand for agricultural products such as apples, plums, grapes and nuts.

Moldova has approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. Hundreds of thousands of Moldovans living abroad, mainly in the European Union, and in the breakaway Transnistria region controlled by Russia have also been asked to vote.

(Sudan Development Authority/Department of Political Affairs/Associated Press)