Moldova’s pro-Western president wins vote overshadowed by Russian meddling claims

CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu has received a second time period in a pivotal presidential runoff in opposition to a Russia-friendly opponent, in a race that was overshadowed by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation within the European Union candidate nation.

With practically 99% of votes counted within the second spherical of the presidential election held Sunday, Sandu had 55% of the vote, based on the Central Electoral Fee, or CEC, in comparison with 45% for Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor basic who was backed by the pro-Russia Get together of Socialists.

The outcome might be a significant reduction for the pro-Western authorities, which strongly backed Sandu’s candidacy, and her push for nearer Western ties on Moldova’s path towards the EU.

“Moldova, you are victorious! Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in history books. Today, you have saved Moldova!” Sandu stated after claiming victory after midnight.

She went on to say that her nation’s vote had confronted an “unprecedented assault” through alleged schemes including dirty money, vote-buying, and electoral interference “by hostile forces from outside the country” and prison teams.

“You will have proven that nothing can stand in the way in which of the individuals’s energy once they select to talk by their vote,” she added.

Speaking before the final vote count, Stoianoglo told the media that “everyone’s voice deserves respect” and that he hopes “from now on, we will put an end to the hatred and division imposed on us.” It isn’t clear if he has publicly commented on his electoral defeat.

When polls closed locally at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT), turnout stood at more than 1.68 million people — about 54% of eligible voters, according to the CEC. Moldova’s large diaspora, which cast ballots in record numbers of more than 325,000 voted, heavily in favor of Sandu in the runoff.

In the first round held Oct. 20, Sandu obtained 42% of the ballot but failed to win an outright majority over the second place Stoianoglo. The presidential role carries significant powers in areas such as foreign policy and national security and has a four-year term.

European Union Fee President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Sandu on her victory, by writing on X: “It takes a uncommon sort of energy to beat the challenges you’ve confronted on this election.”

Allegations of vote-buying and Russian interferenceMoldova’s diaspora played a key role in the presidential vote and in a nationwide referendum held on Oct. 20, when a narrow majority of 50.35% voted to secure Moldova’s path toward EU membership. But the results of the ballots including Sunday’s vote were overshadowed by allegations of a major vote-buying scheme and voter intimidation.

Instead of winning the overwhelming support that Sandu had hoped, the results in both races exposed Moldova’s judiciary as unable to adequately protect the democratic process.

On Sunday, Moldovan police stated they’d “reasonable evidence” of organized transportation of voters — unlawful beneath the nation’s electoral code — to polling stations from throughout the nation and from abroad, and are “investigating and registering evidence in connection with air transport activities from Russia to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Turkey.”

“Such measures are taken to protect the integrity of the electoral process and to ensure that every citizen’s vote is cast freely without undue pressure or influence,” police stated.

Moldova’s international ministry stated on Sunday afternoon that polling stations in Frankfurt, Germany, and Liverpool and Northampton within the U.Okay. had been focused by false bomb threats, which “intended only to stop the voting process.”

Stanislav Secrieru, the president’s nationwide safety adviser, wrote on X: “We are seeing massive interference by Russia in our electoral process,” which he warned had a “high potential to distort the outcome” of the vote.

Secrieru later added that the nationwide voter file methods have been being focused by “ongoing coordinated cyberattacks” to disrupt hyperlinks between home polling stations and people overseas, and that cybersecurity groups have been “working to counter these threats and guarantee system continuity.”

Moldova’s Prime Minister Dorin Recean stated that individuals all through the nation had obtained “anonymous death threats via phone calls” in what he referred to as “an extreme attack” to scare voters within the former Soviet republic, which has a inhabitants of about 2.5 million individuals.

After casting her poll in Chisinau, Sandu advised reporters: “Thieves want to buy our vote, thieves want to buy our country, but the power of the people is infinitely greater.”

Outdoors a polling station in Romania’s capital, Bucharest, 20-year-old medical scholar Silviana Zestrea stated the runoff can be a “definitive step” towards Moldova’s future.

“People need to understand that we have to choose a true candidate that will fulfill our expectations,” she stated. “Because I think even if we are a diaspora now, none of us actually wanted to leave.”

Moldovan police expose a scheme allegedly plotted by a convicted oligarchIn the wake of the 2 October votes, Moldovan legislation enforcement stated {that a} vote-buying scheme was orchestrated by Ilan Shor, an exiled oligarch who lives in Russia and was convicted in absentia final 12 months of fraud and cash laundering. Shor denies any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors say $39 million was paid to greater than 130,000 recipients by an internationally sanctioned Russian financial institution to voters between September and October. Anti-corruption authorities have performed a whole lot of searches and seized over $2.7 million (2.5 million euros) in money as they try and crack down.

In a single case in Gagauzia, an autonomous a part of Moldova the place solely 5% voted in favor of the EU, a doctor was detained after allegedly coercing 25 residents of a house for older adults to vote for a candidate they didn’t select. Police stated they obtained “conclusive evidence,” together with monetary transfers from the identical Russian financial institution.

On Saturday, at a church in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, Father Vasilii advised The Related Press that he had urged individuals to go and vote as a result of it is a “civic obligation” and that they don’t title any candidates.

“We use the goods the country offers us — light, gas,” he stated. “Whether we like what the government does or not, we must go and vote. … The church always prays for peace.”

On Thursday, prosecutors raided a political celebration headquarters and stated 12 individuals have been suspected of paying voters to pick out a candidate within the presidential race. A prison case was additionally opened during which 40 state company workers have been suspected of taking electoral bribes.

Moldova’s EU future at stakeCristian Cantir, a Moldovan affiliate professor of worldwide relations at Oakland College, advised AP that regardless of the final result of the second spherical, it “will not deflate” geopolitical tensions. “On the contrary, I expect geopolitical polarization to be amplified by the campaign for the 2025 legislative elections.”

Moldovan legislation enforcement wants extra sources and better-trained employees working at a sooner tempo to deal with voter fraud, he added, to “create an atmosphere during which anybody tempted to both purchase or promote votes is aware of there might be clear and quick penalties.”

Savlina Adasan, a 21-year-old economics student in Bucharest, said she voted for Sandu and cited concerns about corruption and voters uninformed about the two candidates.

“We want a European future for our country,” she said, adding that it offers “many opportunities, development for our country … and I feel like if the other candidate wins, then it means that we are going 10 steps back as a country.”

A pro-Western government has been in power in Moldova since 2021, and a parliamentary election will be held in 2025. Moldova watchers warn that next year’s vote could be Moscow’s main target.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moldova applied to join the EU. It was granted candidate status in June of that year, and in summer 2024, Brussels agreed to start out membership negotiations. The sharp westward shift irked Moscow and considerably soured relations with Chisinau.