Incumbent pro-European Union President Maia Sandu won a tense presidential election runoff on Sunday, defeating a rival backed by a pro-Russian party, in what she called a “lesson in democracy.”
The elections in the small ex-Soviet republic, sandwiched between War-torn Ukraine and the European Union, has been overshadowed by allegations of interference from Moscow. The key vote came just two weeks after a referendum saw Moldovans back their country’s EU bid by a razor-thin margin.
Sandu won 54.94 percent of the vote, compared to 45.06 percent for Alexandr Stoianoglo, who was backed by the pro-Russian Socialist Party and whom Sandu fired as prosecutor general last year, according to the nearly complete results published by the country’s electoral commission.
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“Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy worthy of being written in the history books…Freedom, truth and justice have prevailed,” Sandu said.
His rival Stoianoglo, 57, called on people “to remain calm, whatever the numbers”, but the Socialist Party which supported him was quick to issue a statement on Monday questioning the results and calling them “illegitimate”, without providing specific proof.
“Maia Sandu is an illegitimate president, recognized only by her sponsors and supporters abroad. The Moldovan people feel betrayed and robbed,” the party said in a statement, denouncing “the blocking of voter access” and other alleged voting irregularities. during which Sandu enjoyed strong support from the country’s large diaspora.
Biden says democracy has won, “Russia has failed.”
In a statement released Monday morning by the White House, President Biden said the people of Moldova “went to the polls and voted in support of President Sandu’s vision for a secure, prosperous, and democratic Moldova.”
“For months, Russia sought to undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions and electoral processes. But Russia failed,” Biden said. “The Moldovan people have exercised their democratic right to choose their own future and have chosen to follow a path aligned with Europe and democracies around the world.”
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Sandu on his re-election and the country’s “European future”, saying it took “rare strength to overcome the challenges you faced during this election”.
French President Emmanuel Macron said democracy had “triumphed over all interference and maneuvers”.
Sandu’s victory was also applauded by the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky Monday. His country, on which Russia launched its full-scale invasion almost three years ago, surrounds Moldova on three sides.
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“The Moldovans have made a clear choice,” Zelensky said Monday. “They have chosen the path of economic growth and social stability.”
He pledged to strengthen Ukraine’s ties with Moldova and noted that the two countries had applied to join the EU following the Russian invasion of February 2022.
“Only true security and a peaceful and united Europe can guarantee every person and every family the confidence to face tomorrow with hope and certainty,” he said.
Moldova’s EU accession negotiations were officially opened in June. In the October 20 referendum, 50.35 percent of voters supported EU membership, with Sandu blaming “foreign interference” for the close result in the country of 2.6 million of inhabitants.
“Attacks, provocations and attempts at destabilization”
As in Georgia, another ex-Soviet country where the ruling party won disputed parliamentary elections last weekend, Russia has been accused of seeking to influence voters. Moscow has denied the allegations.
Police said after the EU referendum they had uncovered a Russian vote-buying scheme that could have affected up to a quarter of the ballots, and Moldovan authorities on Sunday reported “attacks, provocations and attempts to destabilize “.
Police said they were investigating Russia’s alleged use of “organized transports” to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Turkey so that people living in Russia could vote at Moldovan missions in those countries.
Cyberattacks and false bomb threats also targeted overseas voting operations, authorities said.
A deeply divided Moldova
Turnout was higher than in the first round on October 20, when Sandu came in first with 42.5 percent and second-placed Stoianoglo got 26 percent.
While voting on Sunday, Stoianoglo said he had “no relationship with the Kremlin.”
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Although he declared himself in favor of EU membership, he boycotted the referendum.
Moldova is deeply polarized. A large diaspora and the capital are mostly in favor of EU membership, while rural areas and the pro-Russian separatist regions of Transnistria and Gagauzia are opposed.
Sandu lost on the territory of Moldova itself, according to the election results, his victory being due to the diaspora.
“This is what swung the election,” declared Florent Parmentier, political scientist at Sciences Po, emphasizing Sandu’s “dependence on the outside world.”
To maintain its pro-European course, Moldova needs “a lot of help” given “the hybrid war led by Russia”, according to Andrei Curararu, an analyst at the Chisinau-based think tank WatchDog.
“It will not succeed on its own,” he said, earlier citing “unprecedented pressures,” with more than $100 million estimated to have been spent on “destabilizing activities.”
