Moldova's pro-EU President Maia Sandu wins re-election: Video
Moldova's pro-European Union incumbent, Maia Sandu, secured a tense victory in the presidential runoff on Sunday, November 3.
She defeated her rival Alexandr Stoianoglo backed by a pro-Russian party. Sandu received 54.94% of the vote, while Stoianoglo garnered 45.06%, according to near-complete results from the election commission.
In her victory speech, Sandu hailed the election as a "lesson in democracy," asserting that "freedom, truth, and justice have prevailed." She thanked her supporters for their "honest vote," emphasising the importance of Moldova's European aspirations.
The election followed a narrow referendum that saw just over 50% of voters support EU membership, a move Sandu has pursued more aggressively since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The EU's Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Sandu on her re-election, praising her resilience against external challenges. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed her, noting that democracy had triumphed over attempts at interference.
The election process was marred by allegations of Russian meddling. Moldovan authorities reported various attempts to destabilise the electoral process, including accusations of vote-buying schemes targeting expatriates in countries like Belarus and Turkey. Cyberattacks and bomb threats also disrupted out-of-country voting.
Turnout for the runoff was notably higher than in the first round held on October 20, where Sandu led with 42.5% compared to Stoianoglo’s 26%. However, despite her overall win, Sandu faced challenges in the territories of Moldova, particularly in pro-Russian regions like Transnistria, where discontent with the ruling party remains strong.
