DTwo weeks after the narrow “yes” victory in the EU referendum, Moldova confirmed its European trajectory on Sunday by reappointing its president Maia Sandu following a tense election against a backdrop of suspicions of Russian interference .
“Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy worthy of appearing in the history books,” she said at her campaign headquarters, in a charged atmosphere.
The 52-year-old candidate received 54.9% of the vote, compared to 45% for Alexandr Stoianoglo, a 57-year-old former prosecutor supported by the pro-Russian socialists, according to the quasi-final results published by the Electoral Commission.
“Man from Moscow”
Although he initially led, the trend reversed as the votes were counted. The man his adversaries call a “man from Moscow” did not speak during the night but had called a little earlier for “calm”.
As during the recent legislative elections in Georgia, another former Soviet republic, Russia was accused of interference in the electoral process, allegations categorically rejected by the Kremlin.
But this time the outcome was favorable to the pro-EU camp.
Opponent of Moscow
The first woman to occupy, in 2020, the highest positions in this state located between NATO and the Russian sphere of influence, Ms. Sandu turned her back on Vladimir Putin after the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine and carried out a clear turn towards the West.
She came well ahead of the first round on October 20 but her rival was able to count on the support of several small candidates to narrow the gap.
He even won on the territory of Moldova alone but the mobilization of the large diaspora “tipped the election”, commented for AFP the French political scientist Florent Parmentier, specialist in the region.
“Maia Sandu owes her survival to the diaspora, a result which reveals a dependence on the outside” for this head of state who has traveled to European capitals in recent months, he adds.
A “united” country
In her victory speech, she praised a country that had “united” in the face of “an unprecedented attack” by “hostile and criminal forces”. Before concluding with words in Russian as a sign of openness towards those who have not chosen it.
Throughout the day, the authorities reported “attempts at destabilization”.
The police said they were investigating the alleged establishment by Russia of “organized transports” to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Turkey to allow voters residing on its soil to go and vote in the Moldovan consulates or embassies of these countries. . Cyberattacks and false bomb threats have also been reported.
By voting with his wife and two daughters, Alexandr Stoianoglo denied “having links with the Kremlin” and any involvement “in electoral fraud”.
He defended “a Moldova which does not ask for alms but develops harmonious relations with both the East and the West”.
Impacted by the war in Ukraine
Moldova has suffered the full brunt of the consequences of the war in Ukraine, from the influx of refugees to the explosion in energy costs.
“This is the first target of Russia’s hybrid war,” said Andrei Curararu of the WatchDog think tank.
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