Moldova: Maia Sandu Wins Presidential Election
350 thousand Moldovan citizens living in Russia were virtually excluded from voting
Moldovan President Maia Sandu, 52, has won a second term at the helm of this former Soviet republic. In the second round of elections on Sunday, November 3, 55.3% of voters voted for Sandu. Sandu overtook former attorney general and Socialist candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo, who received 44.6% of the vote.
According to data released by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), Stoianoglo, who favors pragmatic and constructive relations with Russia, won among Moldovans with 51.1% of the vote against 48.8% for Sandu, who has an openly anti-Russian stance. On the contrary, the incumbent clearly won the vote of the Moldovan diaspora in Europe with 82.7%, compared to Stoianoglo’s 17.2%, who denounced the exclusion of Moldovan citizens living in Russia, where only 5 polling stations were set up for 350,000 eligible voters, and 25,000 ballots were available.
Moldovan citizens and the entire country “demonstrated the strength of our unity, democracy, and commitment to a decent future,” Sandu wrote on X social network, commenting on her victory in the second round of elections. “Thank you, dear Moldovans, at home and abroad. Walk with pride: you are freedom, hope, and resilience. I am proud to have served you,” Sandu added.
