Maya Sandu he made it, the Moldova looks to the European UnionThe former Soviet Socialist Republic has chosen to continue its path towards the EU, reconfirming the current president (in office since December 2020) with 54,91% of the votes. In the second round, the pro-European president has former prosecutor Alexandr Stoianoglo passed, supported by the pro-Russian socialists, who obtained 45,09%.
The result came after an uncertain start, with a head-to-head that saw the pro-Moscow candidate start out ahead in the first partial data, only to then give way to Sandu. The President triumphed thanks to the support of the capital Chisinau and a Moldavian diaspora traditionally pro-Western, which contributed over 320.000 votes, a decisive contribution to the final result. The support of Moldovans abroad therefore represented the deciding factor, renewing Moldova's commitment to its path towards the European Union. With a higher voter turnout than in the first round (54%), the result of the polls seems to outline the country's future more clearly, reducing the probability of a return to Russian influence and confirming, albeit narrowly, the decision to join the European Union expressed in the referendum two weeks ago.
Return to political stability
Sandu's victory marks an important step for the political stability of Moldova, moving away the risk of a new Russian flu. The President said: “Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy. In our choice for a dignified future, no one has lost.” The re-election represents a clear mandate to continue the dialogue with the European Union, despite the significant challenges the country faces.
"Moldova, today you won. Together, we have demonstrated the strength of our unity, democracy and commitment to a dignified future,” Sandu wrote on X. “Thank you, dear Moldovans, at home and abroad. Walk proudly: you are freedom, hope and resilience. I am proud to serve you all", he added.
Moldova Elections: International Reactions
Following Sandu's victory, European leaders expressed their support. French President Emmanuel Macron commented that “democracy” had triumphed over interference, while Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said she was “happy to continue working” with Sandu for a “European future” for Moldova: “Congratulations, dear Maia Sandu, on your victory. It takes rare strength to overcome the challenges you faced in these elections. I am happy to continue working with you for a European future for Moldova and its people,” the president wrote on X.
Even the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his congratulations in a post on X: “Ukraine supports the European choice of the Moldovan people and is ready to work together to strengthen our partnership. Moldovans have made a clear choice: they have chosen a path towards economic growth and social stability. Only true security and a peaceful and united Europe can provide every person and every family with the confidence to face the future with hope and certainty.”
The shadows of external interference
The runoff was not without controversy. During the campaign, there were numerous Russian interference: there have been cyber attacks to sabotage communications between foreign polling stations and Chisinau, false bomb threats to disrupt voting in Germany and the UK, and anonymous threats to voters. In addition, there have been reports organized transport of the pro-Russian diaspora, with flights from Moscow, Minsk, Baku and Istanbul, and buses from Transnistria.
In recent days, the police have been addressing the issue of vote-buying, a practice denounced by Maia Sandu: “Thieves want to buy our votes and our country, but the power of the people is infinitely greater.” To counter such activities, Sandu had intensified her campaign on social media and in the villages, while the police warned the population via text messages and loudspeakers in supermarkets: “If you are offered money to vote, refuse.”
Moldova: A Country Divided in Two
The election results have highlighted the polarization of the country. While the capital Chisinau and areas with a strong diaspora show clear support for European integration, rural regions and some areas such as Transnistria and Gagauzia remain strongly oriented towards Russia. Divisions that represent an ongoing challenge for Moldova, a country with a population of 3,5 million, and will require a balanced approach from Sandu in the coming years.
Maia Sandu is now preparing for a second term in a complex context, with the awareness that her government will have to face numerous challenges, including the fight against poverty (it is considered the poorest in Europe) and the reform of justice. The president has promised to be “the president of all“, trying to unite a divided country and lead Moldova towards a European future. Of Sandu's eleven challengers in the first round, in fact, only one, the former Olympic boxer and current parliamentarian Octavian Ticu, supported her. All the others joined forces with Stoianoglo, but without success. Sandu is aware of the existing divisions and promised: “In the next four years I will be the president of all.”
