The pro-Western president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, won re-election on Sunday in a high-stakes runoff vote against a rival candidate she labeled as “Moscow’s man.”
The election, closely monitored by the United States, the European Union, and Russia, was seen as a critical test of Moldova’s geopolitical direction following a contested election in Georgia that favored a Moscow-leaning party.
With over 98 percent of ballots counted, Ms. Sandu secured 54.9 percent of the vote, defeating her Moscow-friendly rival, who garnered 45.3 percent.
In a televised address, she expressed gratitude to Moldovans abroad for their support, stating, “Today you saved Moldova,” and emphasized that the election represented a victory for the entire nation.
Ms. Sandu criticized “hostile forces from outside the country and criminal groups” for attempting to influence the election, describing their actions as an unprecedented attack involving “dirty money and illegal vote buying.”
European leaders hailed the outcome as a victory against what Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk termed “Russia’s aggressive and massive interference,” expressing optimism for similar trends in other nations.
Moldova, located between Ukraine and Romania, has been navigating a complex relationship with both Eastern and Western influences since gaining independence in 1991, amid issues of corruption.
Sunday's election marked a significant defeat for Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor general under criminal investigation for corruption, who was backed by Moldova’s socialist party aligned with Russia.
In the first round of voting two weeks earlier, Ms. Sandu led significantly, while several other candidates who opposed EU alignment endorsed Mr. Stoianoglo for the runoff. Voter turnout for the election was over 54 percent.
Ms. Sandu's victory is seen as a boost for Western efforts to reduce Moscow’s influence in former Soviet territories, especially as tensions have escalated following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
A small region in Moldova has declared itself an independent state since the USSR's collapse, and Russian military presence has persisted since 1992.
Ms. Sandu has advocated for a referendum to affirm Moldova's commitment to a European trajectory, but the razor-thin margin in the referendum results raised concerns about the strength of public support.
Despite her commitment to tackling corruption and reducing Russian influence, voters expressed mixed feelings regarding her administration's economic performance, particularly concerning pension issues amid rising costs.
Russia has consistently criticized Ms. Sandu, portraying her as a Western puppet undermining Moldova’s sovereignty and traditional values.
During the election campaign, accusations arose against Moscow regarding disinformation and vote-buying efforts aimed at influencing the election outcome.
Overall, the election in Moldova represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle between Russia and the West over the geopolitical alignment of former Soviet states, particularly in light of recent events in Ukraine.