Moldovans are voting in a tightly contested presidential run-off on Sunday, with the choice seen as pivotal for the nation’s future.
Incumbent President Maia Sandu, a pro-European reformist, faces Alexandr Stoianoglo, the former chief prosecutor she dismissed, who promises a balanced foreign policy and is backed by the pro-Russian Party of Socialists.
The stakes of the election are high, with Sandu advocating for deeper ties with Europe and Stoianoglo presenting himself as an “apolitical president” who will work for all Moldovans.
However, the election has grown contentious, with allegations of external interference and corruption clouding the campaign.
Moldovan authorities and Sandu herself allege that Ilan Shor, a fugitive oligarch based in Russia, is attempting to sway the vote in Moscow’s favor.
Shor, facing charges of money laundering and embezzlement in Moldova, has denied any wrongdoing, though police report he funneled $39 million into Moldova in recent months, allegedly influencing at least 138,000 voters.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has rejected allegations of Russian interference, dismissing claims of meddling as unfounded.
“We resolutely reject any accusations that we are somehow interfering in this,” Peskov said, likening the situation to disputed elections in Georgia, where Russia was also accused of interference.
Sandu secured the first-round vote with 42.4%, ahead of Stoianoglo’s 26%, though she fell short of the 50% needed to win outright.
Analysts suggest Stoianoglo could gain ground in the run-off, as votes from candidates eliminated in the first round are expected to bolster his total. Renato Usatii, a populist ex-mayor who came third, has refused to endorse either candidate, telling his supporters to “decide on your own.”
For Sandu, a win would signal Moldova’s continued path toward European integration, building on recent pro-EU measures, including a narrowly approved constitutional change aligning Moldova’s commitment to EU membership.
Meanwhile, Stoianoglo, supported by the Socialist Party’s leader and former president Igor Dodon, has sparked concerns among European-focused leaders and commentators who fear his potential victory could swing Moldova back toward Moscow’s influence in the Black Sea region.
“This election will determine whether Moldova continues on its European path or returns to the Russian fold,” former Defense Minister Anatol Salaru said, underscoring the wider geopolitical implications.
A former Soviet republic nestled between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova is among Europe’s poorest countries, with a population of 2.5 million and a significant expatriate community of 1.2 million whose votes could prove decisive in the run-off.
Allegations of vote-buying have intensified ahead of the election, with one voter saying she sold her vote for 1,000 roubles (about £8), echoing Sandu’s concerns about widespread attempts to buy votes.
The results of this run-off will be crucial not only for Moldova but for the balance of influence between Europe and Russia in the region. Both Sandu and Stoianoglo are vying to shape Moldova’s next chapter, as citizens head to the polls for a decision that could have lasting effects on the country’s geopolitical future.
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