The trend could, however, be reversed as many votes remained to be counted abroad, where a large diaspora lives.
In her first official reaction, the head of state denounced “an unprecedented attack on democracy” and promised “not to give in”. “Criminal groups, acting in concert with foreign forces hostile to our national interests, attacked our country with tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda” to “trap our country in uncertainty and instability,” Maia Sandu told the press, her face serious.
A setback for the outgoing president
At the same time, the 52-year-old candidate came first in the first round of the presidential election with 38% of the votes. On November 3, she will face Alexandr Stoianoglo, a 57-year-old former prosecutor supported by the pro-Russian socialists, who did better than expected with nearly 29% of the vote.
Maia Sandu, who turned her back on Moscow after the invasion of neighboring Ukraine and brought her country’s candidacy to Brussels, had called this referendum to validate her strategy. And determine the “destiny” of this former Soviet republic of 2.6 million inhabitants.
But his bet seems to have failed. Because even if the “yes” ultimately narrowly wins, this result, without calling into question the negotiations with the Twenty-Seven, “weakens in some way the pro-European image of the population and the leadership of Maia Sandu” , comments French political scientist Florent Parmentier, a specialist in the region, for AFP.
The first woman to occupy the highest positions in 2020, this former World Bank economist with a reputation for incorruptibility has become a leading European personality in four years.
Searches and arrests ahead of the vote
In a complicated geopolitical environment, with Ukraine at war and Georgia accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift, Moldova gave Brussels something to hope for, underlines the expert. However, after this setback, a victory for Maia Sandu in the second round is far from assured. Alexandr Stoianoglo can count on the vote reserves of many small candidates “and the terrible trap of “All against Sandu”” risks closing on her, according to the analyst.
During the campaign, this stern-looking man called for “restoring justice” in the face of a power ready, according to the opposition, to violate rights and pleaded for a “balanced” foreign policy, from the EU to Russia.
Throughout the day, Moldovans responded, including those from the separatist region of Transdniestria, which hosts a garrison of Russian soldiers.
Between corruption and disinformation operations, the police have carried out 350 searches in recent months and carried out hundreds of arrests of suspects accused of wanting to disrupt the electoral process on behalf of Moscow.
A massive vote-buying scheme has been revealed, targeting up to a quarter of voters expected at the polls in the country of 2.6 million people. According to the WatchDog think tank, Russia spent around a hundred million dollars to influence the vote. With, in the maneuver, the oligarch Ilan Shor, refugee in Moscow after a conviction for fraud. On social networks, he joked about “the rout” of Maia Sandu and her “lamentable failure”.
