- In the former Soviet Republic of Moldova, the runoff election for the presidency began without incident on Sunday morning.
- Pro-Western President Maia Sandu is running for a second term.
- The challenger is former Attorney General Alexandr Stoianoglo. He is running for the Socialists of Moscow-friendly former President Igor Dodon.
- The outcome of the election is considered open.
All polling stations opened without delay, as the election management in the capital Chisinau announced. Earlier in the morning, tens of thousands of people across the country cast their votes.
Head of state Maia Sandu (52) prevailed against another ten candidates in the first round on October 20th with 42.45 percent of the vote. Her challenger Alexandr Stoianoglo (57), who wants economic relations with Russia in addition to EU integration, received 25.98 percent of the vote.
During the runoff election, President Sandu warned against vote buying and fraud. “Thieves want to buy our votes and our country, but the power of the people is infinitely stronger than all their machinations,” she told media representatives as she cast her vote in the capital Chisinau.
1 / 3 In the October elections, incumbent Maia Sandu (pictured) spoke of “unprecedented election manipulation”. Reuters / Vladislav Culiomza
2 / 3 Alexandr Stoianoglo (pictured with his wife) is running for the Socialist Party of pro-Moscow ex-President Igor Dodon. Reuters / Vladislav Culiomza
3 / 3 Votes are collected everywhere for the runoff election. An elderly woman throws her ballot paper into an official traveling urn in Ciopleni. Keystone / AP Photo, Vadim Ghirda
The head of state’s national security advisor has accused Russia of massive interference in the runoff election. This distorts the result, said Stanislav Secrieru on X. In the breakaway region of Transnistria from Moldova, where Russian troops are stationed, there is organized transport of voters, which is illegal.
Elections abroad and voter transport
Secrieru published reports on organized transport from Russia by buses and charter flights that flew voters to Baku in Azerbaijan, Minsk in Belarus and Istanbul in Turkey.
Moldovan citizens are also flocking to the polls abroad. The Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that a plane carrying Moldovans from Moscow landed in Belarus. Apparently only 10,000 ballot papers were issued in Moscow. There had previously been complaints that only two polling stations in Moscow were open for Moldovans living in Russia to cast their votes. The flight was clear evidence of widespread organized voter transport, Secrieru said.
The pro-European Maia Sandu is criticized for a lack of economic and social progress. She had announced that she would continue her reform-oriented course. Many people are also annoyed that energy costs are rising after Sandu stopped using Russian gas.
Her challenger Alexandr Stoianoglo wants not only an EU course but also good economic relations with Russia. Opponents see him as a puppet of oligarchs. Eligible voters in Moldova complained that they had been asked in advance to vote for Stoianoglo.
The small country between Ukraine and Romania has traditionally been torn between the West and Russia. Like Ukraine, Moldova is a candidate for EU membership.
Reuters / Vladislav Culiomza
Moldova has around 2.5 million inhabitants. Hundreds of thousands of Moldovans abroad – mainly in the EU – and in the breakaway Transnistria region controlled by Russia are also called to vote.
The polling stations in Moldova are open until 9 p.m. (8 p.m. CET). Results are expected on Monday.
