Pro-EU Moldovan president seals election amid Russian allegations
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The news: Moldova’s pro-EU President Maia Sandu won re-election in a runoff vote with 55.33% of the vote, narrowly securing another term in the former Soviet republic amid big challenges.
The context: The victory, only secured with the votes of Moldovans abroad, comes after allegations of Russian election meddling, including reports of paid voters and bomb threats at polling sites.
Sandu’s opponent, former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, supported by a pro-Russian party, narrowly won among citizens residing within Moldova.
The numbers: Moldova has a population of fewer than 3 million people. Sandu, 52, pledged to be “a president for all,” emphasising unity and addressing economic reforms.
The election, crucial for Moldova’s EU accession goals, follows a 20 October referendum on EU membership passed by an unexpectedly thin margin.
What they said: Vitaly Andrievski, a political analyst in Moldova, said the authorities needed to curb outside interference in time for the 2025 parliamentary election, which will determine the government.
Moldova’s economic struggles, exacerbated by reduced Russian gas supplies and high inflation after the Ukraine war, remain a central issue.
The EU and US accuse Moscow of meddling, echoing similar interference concerns seen in Georgia days earlier. The ex-Soviet state, which is also seeking EU membership, last week re-elected a ruling party regarded in the West as increasingly pro-Russian.
The Socialist Party, which supported her opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo, said it did not recognise her presidency as legitimate, labelling her as the “president of the diaspora” and accusing the election of widespread fraud.
