Moldova’s pro-European Union incumbent President Maia Sandu gained a tense presidential runoff election Sunday, beating a rival backed by a pro-Russian get together in what she referred to as as a “lesson in democracy.”
The election within the small ex-Soviet republic, which lies sandwiched between war-torn Ukraine and the European Union, was overshadowed by allegations of meddling by Moscow. The important thing vote passed off simply two weeks after a referendum noticed Moldovans again their nation’s bid to affix the EU by a razor-thin margin.
Sandu gained 54.94 % of the vote in comparison with 45.06 % for Alexandr Stoianoglo, who was supported by the pro-Russian Socialists get together and whom Sandu fired as prosecutor basic final yr, in response to near-complete outcomes printed by the nation’s election fee.
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“At this time, pricey Moldovans, you’ve got given a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in historical past books…. Freedom, reality, and justice have prevailed,” Sandu declared. Her rival Stoianoglo, 57, urged folks “to stay calm, whatever the figures,” however the Socialists get together that backed him was fast to launch an announcement Monday questioning the outcomes and calling her “illegitimate,” with out providing any particular proof.
“Maia Sandu is an illegitimate president, acknowledged solely by her sponsors and supporters overseas. The folks of Moldova really feel betrayed and robbed,” the get together claimed in an announcement, decrying “blocking of voters’ entry” and different alleged irregularities within the vote, through which Sandu benefitted from sturdy help from the nation’s massive diaspora.
Biden says democracy gained, “Russia failed.”
In an announcement issued Monday morning by the White Home, President Biden mentioned the Moldovan folks “went to the polls and voted in favor of President Sandu’s imaginative and prescient for a safe, affluent, and democratic Moldova.”
“For months, Russia sought to undermine Moldova’s democratic establishments and election processes. However Russia failed,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “The Moldovan folks have exercised their democratic proper to decide on their very own future, they usually have chosen to pursue a path aligned with Europe and democracies all over the place.”
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Sandu on her re-election victory and the nation’s “European future,” saying it took “a uncommon sort of power to beat the challenges you’ve got confronted on this election.”
French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned democracy had “triumphed over all interference and all manuevers.”
Sandu’s victory was additionally applauded by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday. His nation, which Russia launched its ongoing full-scale invasion of virtually three years in the past, surrounds Moldova on three sides.
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“Moldovans have made a transparent alternative,” Zelenskyy mentioned Monday. “They selected a path towards financial progress and social stability.”
He vowed to strengthen Ukraine’s ties with Moldova and famous that each nations had utilized to affix the EU within the wake of Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
“Solely true safety and a peaceable, united Europe can assure every individual and each household the arrogance to face tomorrow with hope and certainty,” he mentioned.
Accession negotiations for Moldova to affix the EU formally opened in June. Within the October 20 referendum, 50.35 % of voters backed EU membership, with Sandu blaming “international interference” for the slender end result within the nation of two.6 million folks.
“Assaults, provocations and makes an attempt at destabilization”
Like in Georgia, one other ex-Soviet nation the place the ruling get together gained a contested parliamentary election final weekend, Russia has been accused of searching for to sway voters. Moscow has denied the allegations.
Police mentioned after the EU referendum that they’d uncovered a Russian vote-buying scheme that would have affected as much as 1 / 4 of the ballots, and Moldovan authorities reported “assaults, provocations and makes an attempt at destabilization” on Sunday.
Police mentioned they had been investigating Russia’s alleged use of “organized transportation” to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Turkey so folks dwelling in Russia may vote at Moldovan missions in these nations.
Cyberattacks and faux bomb threats additionally focused out-of-country voting operations, authorities mentioned.
A deeply divided Moldova
Turnout was greater than within the first spherical on October 20, when Sandu got here out forward with 42.5 % and runner-up Stoianoglo obtained 26 %.
Casting his vote on Sunday, Stoianoglo mentioned he had “no relations with the Kremlin.”
Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu/Getty
Whereas he is mentioned he additionally favors becoming a member of the EU, he boycotted the referendum.
Moldova is deeply polarized. A big diaspora and the capital largely favor becoming a member of the EU, whereas rural areas and the pro-Russian separatist areas of Transnistria and Gagauzia are towards it.
Sandu misplaced within the territory of Moldova itself, election outcomes confirmed, along with her owing her victory to the diaspora.
“That is what tipped the election,” mentioned Florent Parmentier, a political scientist at Paris-based Sciences Po, noting Sandu’s “dependence on the skin.”
To keep up its pro-EU course, Moldova wants “loads of assist” given “the hybrid battle waged by Russia,” in response to Andrei Curararu, an analyst on the Chisinau-based WatchDog assume tank.
“It won’t succeed by itself,” he mentioned, earlier citing “unprecedented strain” with greater than $100 million estimated to have been spent on “destabilization actions.”
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