Moldovans will head to the polls on Sunday for a presidential runoff between incumbent pro-EU President Maia Sandu and Alexandr Stoianoglo, a challenger with ties to Russia. Despite Sandu securing 42% in the initial round, the contest remains tight as Stoianoglo's Socialist party, aligned with Moscow, pushes to gain power.
This election follows a recent referendum where a narrow majority of voters backed EU membership. Moldova, a country of nearly 3 million in southeastern Europe, has long fluctuated between Western and Russian influence. Under Sandu, a former World Bank adviser, Moldova has intensified efforts to distance itself from Moscow, especially since Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Sandu's campaign has been marked by accusations of Russian interference. Her team claims Moscow, along with allies like the exiled businessman Ilan Shor, orchestrated a significant vote-buying scheme to influence the election. Sandu described this as an "unprecedented assault" on Moldova's democracy and mobilized state resources to counteract the alleged interference. Measures included dismantling the vote-buying networks and public service campaigns urging voter integrity.
Stoianoglo, who received 26% in the first round, denied ties to Russian interests and rejected accusations of serving as a “Trojan horse” for foreign control. Although he claims support for EU membership, he abstained from the referendum, labeling it a “parody.” He has called for improving relations with Russia and downplayed allegations of Kremlin interference.
The stakes are high as Moldova navigates its path amid ongoing tension with Moscow, which maintains 1,500 troops in the breakaway region of Transnistria. The election outcome will not only shape Moldova’s relationship with Russia but also its EU aspirations, echoing similar challenges faced by other post-Soviet states like Georgia, where recent elections raised questions over voting fairness and Moscow's influence.
.jpeg)
0 Comments