21 Oct, 2024 10:11

Pro-EU Moldovan leader faces presidential election runoff

The pro-Western Maia Sandu failed to meet the 50% threshold during Sunday’s vote

Moldova will hold a second round of its presidential election next month after no candidate reached the threshold for an outright victory during Sunday’s vote, according to preliminary results published by the country’s Central Electoral Commission on Monday morning.

The runoff is set to be held between incumbent pro-Western President Maia Sandu and former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, the leader of the Party of Socialists (PSRM). The two garnered 41.86% and 26.32% of the vote, respectively, in the first round. A candidate must win an absolute majority of 50% plus one vote to win the presidency.

Meanwhile, a referendum on EU accession that was held alongside the presidential election is so far too close to call. Earlier preliminary results had indicated that the majority had voted against a clause being inserted into the country’s constitution defining EU accession as a goal. However, according to the latest reports, with 99% of the votes counted, the ‘yes’ vote was slightly ahead at 50.3%.

In a press statement late on Sunday, Sandu inveighed against the results of the voting, claiming that there was “clear evidence” of “fraud of unprecedented scale” and election interference from “criminal groups” working with outside forces “hostile to our national interests.”

Moldovan election observer tells RT she was ‘openly threatened’ at polling station in EU nation

“Their objective was to undermine a democratic process. Their intention was to spread fear and panic in society... We are waiting for the final results, and we will respond with firm decisions,” she said. Her allegations came amid ongoing claims by Moldovan authorities that Russia was waging a “hybrid war” to destabilize the country and derail its EU path.

Commenting on Sandu’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said she should not hurl accusations without any proof or evidence.

Moldova is a former Soviet republic with a population of about 2.5 million sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine.
The country has been on a pro-Western trajectory since 2020, when Sandu came to power, and has been actively pushing for EU membership, banning critics and calling on Brussels to sanction those opposed to the idea. Moldova was granted EU candidate status in 2022 alongside Ukraine.

Sandu’s policies have been widely criticized by the Moldovan opposition, who claim that her administration has failed to resolve the crisis in the economy and energy sector, and has driven the country deeper into poverty.

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President Maia Sandu holding a press conference after the vote on Monday October 21, 2024

Moldova narrowly votes 'yes' to EU membership

Earlier preliminary results had shown a majority "no," but a surge of ballots from abroad provided last-minute support.

21 Oct, 2024 15:23
Home Russia & FSU

EU accuses Russia of ‘unprecedented’ referendum interference

The bloc has offered Moldova €1.8 billion and urged people to vote for integration

Brussels has accused Moscow of pressuring Moldova over its EU integration referendum and presidential election on Sunday.

A constitutional amendment which sets the goal of eventually joining the
European Union is poised to pass by a razor-thin margin.

Russia has called the vote unfree and described it as suspicious.
On Monday, EU spokesman Peter Stano said, “We noted that this vote took place under unprecedented interference and intimidation by Russia and its proxies aiming to destabilize the democratic processes.”

Early results reported by Moldovan election officials indicated a slight majority of votes cast against the constitutional amendment proposed by pro-Western President Maia Sandu, who is running for a second term in office.
During counting overnight, the pro-integration vote pulled into the lead.

Sandu declared victory on the issue after 98.6% of the votes were counted, with preliminary results showing 50.27% of the vote cast in favor and 49.73% against.

Moldovan citizens residing in Western nations, whose ballots were counted last, reportedly tipped the balance in favor of the initiative.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the dynamics of the tally were “difficult to explain.”

“Any observers with basic understanding of political processes can attest to those anomalies with the vote count,” Peskov said.

He added that considering Chisinau’s crackdown on the opposition, the reported outcome was significant.

Moscow previously claimed that the Moldovan government restricted the ability of citizens living in Russia to participate in the vote. Only two polling stations worked in the country, with 5,000 ballots available at each, while an estimated 500,000 Moldovan citizens live in Russia, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier this month.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) praised Moldovan officials for the organization of the election, but acknowledged that it had issues with opposition representation.

The conditions “did not provide the contestants with a level playing field,” Urszula Gacek, the head of the body’s observer mission, said on Monday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Moldova earlier this month to meet with Sandu and announce an EU plan to invest €1.8 billion ($1.95bn) in the country’s economy between 2025 and 2027.

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About

Description

Maia Sandu is a Moldovan politician who has been the President of Moldova since 24 December 2020. She is the founder and former leader of the Party of Action and Solidarity and former Prime Minister of Moldova from 8 June 2019 until 14 November 2019, when the government collapsed after a vote of no-confidence. Wikipedia

Born: 1972 (age 52 years), Risipeni, Moldova

Education: Harvard Kennedy School (2010), Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (1994)

Party: Party of Action and Solidarity

Presidential term: December 24, 2020 –

Nationality: Moldovan, Romanian