Two weeks after the extremely narrow victory of the yes vote in the referendum on EU membership, Moldovans turned out en masse on Sunday, November 3, to elect their president and confirm, or not, their European destiny, in a vote marred by accusations of Russian interference, suspicions flatly denied by the Kremlin.
The outgoing pro-Western head of state Maia Sandu faces Alexandru Stoianoglo, supported by the pro-Russian socialists. All analysts predict a close battle. Maia Sandu obtained a large advantage in the first round, on October 20, with 42.5% of the votes, but her rival, who obtained close to 26%, can count on the support of several small candidates.
Throughout the day, authorities reported “Provocations and attempts at destabilization”. Police said they were investigating alleged Russian establishment “organized transport” to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Türkiye to allow voters residing in their territory to vote in the Moldovan consulates or embassies of these countries. According to the same source, cyberattacks and false bomb threats also targeted overseas voting operations.
Sunday’s turnout rate was significantly higher than in the first round, with long queues at several locations and a record number of diaspora voters. The first partial results are expected in the afternoon in this state of 2.6 million inhabitants.
Low European perfusion
Between the two rounds, the presidential side intensified its campaign on social networks and in the towns to try to counteract the massive purchase of votes that, according to Chisinau, distorted the results of the referendum, which was more disputed than expected (50.35% in the elections). favor of yes).
After entering her ballot into the polls, Maia Sandu called for action “against scammers”placing your ” trust “ on his fellow citizens “who have always moved the country forward and protected it from evil”.
Opposite, Alexandr Stoianoglo, a fluent speaker where Russian words are often mixed with the official Romanian language, promised to be “the president of all”denying “have relations with the Kremlin” and any implications “in electoral fraud”. When he went to vote with his wife and two daughters, he defended “A Moldova that does not ask for alms but that develops harmonious relations with both the East and the West”.
This poor country, under European influence, is extremely polarized, between, on the one hand, a diaspora and a capital mainly in favor of EU integration, and, on the other, rural areas and two regions, the separatist province of Transnistria and autonomous Gagauzia, turned to Russia.
