West Hails Reelection Of Pro-EU Maia Sandu In Tense Moldova Vote

The West on Monday welcomed the reelection of Moldova's pro-European President Maia Sandu, while the pro-Russian Socialists slammed her as "illegitimate" after a tense vote that has laid bare divisions in the former Soviet republic bordering war-torn Ukraine

Chisinau, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Nov, 2024) The West on Monday welcomed the reelection of Moldova's pro-European President Maia Sandu, while the pro-Russian Socialists slammed her as "illegitimate" after a tense vote that has laid bare divisions in the former Soviet republic bordering war-torn Ukraine.

Sunday's key vote was overshadowed by allegations of Russian meddling and took place just two weeks after a referendum in which Moldovans voted by a razor-thin margin in favour of joining the EU.

Backed by the country's large diaspora, Sandu won 55.33 percent of votes, the election commission said with all votes counted. Her rival, Alexandr Stoianoglo, who is supported by the Socialists, received 44.67 percent.

"Yesterday, Moldovans took a crucial step forward on our European path. But the fight for democracy in Moldova -- and across our region -- continues," Sandu wrote on social media platform X on Monday.

But the Socialists said that irregularities and the reduction of polling booths for Moldovans living in Russia had marred the vote.

"Maia Sandu is an illegitimate president, recognised only by her sponsors and supporters abroad. The people of Moldova feel betrayed and robbed," the party said in a statement.

Russia's foreign ministry accused the West of "blatant interference" in the vote, and Moldovan authorities of "unprecedented repression towards the (pro-Russian) opposition".

- 'European future' -

US President Joe Biden hailed Sandu's reelection as a win for democracy and said Russia had failed to undermine Moldova.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Moldovans "had shown once again their determination to build a European future despite hybrid attempts to undermine democracy".

For German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Sandu had "set her country's European course", while Berlin condemned what it called "a massive, coordinated attempt" to prevent Moldovans abroad from voting, including with bomb threats, calling the intimidation "totally unacceptable".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Sandu, emphasising the need for "a peaceful, united Europe".

Sandu owed her victory to Moldovans living abroad, many of them in EU countries. Of the almost 328,000 votes cast abroad, more than 271,000 were for her.

The 52-year-old former World Bank economist actually lost in the territory of Moldova itself, election results showed.

Moldova is deeply polarised. A large diaspora and the capital mostly favour joining the EU, while rural areas and the pro-Russian separatist regions of Transnistria and Gagauzia are against.

In a conciliatory speech mostly in Romanian, the country's official language, but also with one part in Russian, Sandu vowed to be a "president for all".

Russia has been accused of seeking to sway voters in both Moldova and Georgia, another former Soviet republic, where the ruling party won a contested parliamentary election last month.

Moscow has denied the allegations.

In recent weeks, Moldovan authorities have reported "unprecedented" attempts at "destabilisation", including massive vote buying, fake bomb threats, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, and Russia's alleged use of the "organised transportation" of voters.

- 'Challenging circumstances' -

International election monitors noted "extremely challenging circumstances", adding that the elections on Sunday were conducted in a "calm and orderly" manner.

Turnout was higher than in the first round on October 20.

Sandu, who became the country's first woman president when she beat a Moscow-backed incumbent in 2020, applied for Moldova to join the 27-member EU after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Membership negotiations formally began in June.

In the October 20 referendum, 50.35 percent backed EU membership.

Sandu blamed "foreign interference" for the narrow result in the country of 2.6 million people.

"Russia had an influence... but this is not the only reason why 44 percent of people voted for Stoianoglo," Lucian Cristea, a 27-year-old student, told AFP, noting a deep attachment to Russia for some.

The diaspora vote "tipped the election", said Florent Parmentier, a political scientist at Paris-based Sciences Po university, noting Sandu's "dependence on the outside".

To maintain its pro-EU course, Moldova needs "a lot of help", given "the hybrid war waged by Russia", according to Andrei Curararu, an analyst at the Chisinau-based WatchDog think tank.

"It will not succeed on its own," he said.

The country faces parliamentary elections expected to be held in the summer of 2025, with experts predicting another key test for the government's pro-European drive.