In Moldova, the pro-European candidate Maia Sandu was re-elected president on Sunday, November 3, for a second four-year term, thanks to the strong mobilization of a fairly young, urban and educated electorate, as well as the large diaspora. installed in the European Union (EU). The almost final count of the second round gives 55% of the votes to the outgoing president against the candidate proposed by the Socialist Party, Alexandre Stoianoglo, considered close to Moscow, who obtained 45% of the votes.
At least 300,000 Moldovans from abroad went to the polling stations open in embassies and consulates. “a historical record” according to the Central Electoral Commission of Moldova, which counts a total of 3.3 million voters registered on the electoral lists. Two weeks ago, Maia Sandu won the first round of the presidential elections with 42.49% and 656,852 votes. A disappointing result when she hoped to be re-elected without going through a second round.
This time, the pro-Western camp mobilized strongly, with 910,000 votes. This is even much more than the 750,000 votes in favor of EU integration obtained during the referendum organized on October 20, at the same time as the first round of the presidential elections. In 2020, Maia Sandu obtained 943,006 votes (57.72%) during the second round against the socialist Igor Dodon.
The country received the news calmly. There are no scenes of jubilation outside Maia Sandu’s campaign headquarters. No horns or fireworks like four years ago in the streets of the center of Chisinau, which voted 58.5% in favor of the president. Without the diaspora votes, Alexandre Stoianoglo would have narrowly won with 51% of the vote.
“I’m furious because in Russia there were only two polling stations open, while in Europe everyone could vote peacefully! “, explains Vasile Ciobanu, a 48-year-old bricklayer returning home after dinner with friends. “We had to free Sandu. Since he came to power, inflation has skyrocketed and we have LGBT parades in the streets, protected by the police. We don’t want that here. Our brothers are the Russians who are Orthodox like us.”continues gesturing. The man, who calls himself very religious, claims that in the church the priest called Stoianoglo to vote.
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