Shortly afterwards, the electoral commission confirmed Sandu‘s victory: after counting more than 98 percent of the votes, she received 54.64 percent. Her opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo came from 45.36 percent.
In the runoff election for the presidency in Moldova, a narrow election victory for Sandu was already apparent on Sunday evening: According to the first partial results, after more than 90 percent of the ballot papers were counted, Sandu initially led by a narrow margin with 51.34 percent of the votes cast, ahead of the Russia-friendly Stoianoglo, who was 48.66 percent. As expected, she later expanded this lead.
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Moldova: Pro-Russian presidential candidate leads, results show
In a conciliatory speech on Sunday evening, she called for unity. Sandu said she heard the voices of both her supporters and her opponents.
“Rare kind of strength”
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Sandu on her re-election. “It requires a rare kind of strength to overcome the challenges you faced in this election,” von der Leyen wrote on Platform X. “I look forward to continuing to work with you towards a European future for Moldova and their people to work towards.”
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, also congratulated Sandu, who had campaigned “for democracy, the rule of law and a European future”. “She has shown exceptional courage and leadership and stood up for her people,” Metsola wrote on X. Europe will continue to support the Republic of Moldova on this journey.
Final round overshadowed by serious incidents
The final round of the Moldovan presidential race was also overshadowed by a series of serious incidents: Moscow relied, on the one hand, on aggressive propaganda and widespread voter bribery and, on the other hand, on cyber attacks against the central electoral commission and false bomb threats, especially against polling stations abroad, in order to monitor the election process as often as possible to interrupt for a long time. At the same time, there were special flights from Russia for Moldovan guest workers who were taken to Azerbaijan, Belarus and Turkey for voting.
Former pro-European head of government Natalia Gavrilita said bitterly after the election that her country had just gone through “not an election, but a real hybrid war.” Political observers, for their part, spoke of a “dress rehearsal by Russia” for next year’s parliamentary elections in Moldova.
ePaper
Ntary elections in Moldova. The intense electoral environment highlighted the deep divisions within the country regarding its geopolitical orientation, with a significant faction leaning towards Russia amidst the EU’s efforts to strengthen ties with Moldova.
Despite these challenges, pro-European candidate Maia Sandu emerged victorious, her campaign focusing on democracy, rule of law, and a commitment to a European future for Moldova. Her re-election was celebrated by European leaders, marking a continued partnership between Moldova and the EU.
The election was not only pivotal for Moldova’s future direction but also served as a reflection of larger regional tensions, particularly regarding Russia’s influence in Eastern Europe. Observers noted the election’s significance as a barometer for democratic resilience in the region, with Moldova at the forefront of these geopolitical dynamics.
