Moldova’s pro-EU president on course for re-election

Moldovan President Maia Sandu is on track to secure another four years in office following a runoff election on Sunday, despite widespread allegations that Moscow has been working to influence the vote against her.

According to figures published by Moldova’s Central Election Commission, pro-Western former World Bank economist Sandu looks almost certain be reelected with around 51.7 percent of the vote in the second round, putting her ahead of rival Alexandr Stoianoglo, who drew around 48.3 percent. Some 95 percent of votes have been counted, according to the official results website.

“Our people have united, and freedom and the citizens have won,” Sandu said in the early hours of Monday morning. “Peace and hope for a better life have prevailed!”

Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor from the pro-Russian Socialist Party, sought to portray himself as a unity candidate — vowing not to oppose European integration while also rebuilding relations with Moscow. Speaking as the polls closed, Stoianoglo said the people’s “choice will determine our future path.”

Sandu was denied an outright majority in the first round of the presidential election two weeks ago, and a simultaneous referendum on enshrining EU membership into the constitution passed by a razor-thin margin.

Authorities have accused the Kremlin of meddling in the votes, paying millions of dollars to ordinary people and orchestrating a campaign of propaganda and disinformation designed to undermine the country’s EU candidacy. Ultimately, those voting from abroad, including in Europe and the U.S., swung the referendum in favor of the pro-EU side.

However, in a statement issued while polling stations were still open on Sunday, Sandu’s national security adviser, Stanislav Secrieru, said “massive interference” had been detected at overseas polling stations, with charter flights laid on to take Moldovans living in Russia to cast ballots in nearby countries like Belarus, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

“Ongoing coordinated cyberattacks are targeting the connectivity of our national voter record systems, disrupting links between polling stations domestically and abroad,” he said.

Secrieru also reported bomb threats had been phoned in to polling stations in Germany and the United Kingdom, while those casting ballots at the embassy in Moscow had been offered a free meal at a nearby restaurant.

However, according to Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi, diasporans hit an all-time turnout record early on Sunday evening, with more than a quarter of a million voting “despite fake bomb alerts at several polling stations in Europe (likely perpetrated by (pro)Russian elements).”

Statistics published by the Central Election Commission show that a clear majority of votes cast by Moldovans abroad were for Sandu.

Speaking overnight, Sandu said: “Moldova has been under an unprecedented attack in the history of all Europe — dirty money, illegal vote-buying, the interference in electoral processes by hostile forces from outside the country and by criminal groups, lies, sowing hatred and fear within society.”

There have been repeated warnings that Moscow has sought to oust the Moldovan president in the past, with Ukraine’s intelligence services last year alleging a plot to violently overthrow the government. A former Soviet Republic, Moldova borders Ukraine. Russia has stationed more than a thousand troops in the breakaway region of Transnistria, despite calls from the Moldovan government that they be withdrawn.

Moldova began accession talks with the EU in June, and officials have set an internal deadline of 2030 to join the bloc.

Siegfried Mureșan, a Romanian MEP and chair of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Moldova, told POLITICO on Sunday night that Sandu’s presumed win was a victory for “a future where the benefits of the European Union are felt in the lives and homes of all Moldovans.”

“The pro-European victory in the presidential elections and the positive outcome of the referendum on joining the European Union make the Republic of Moldova a stronger state, better prepared for the accession process,” he said.

This story is being updated.