Moldova holds second round of presidential election
Moldova is holding its second round of presidential
elections on Nov. 3, featuring incumbent pro-Western President Maia Sandu and
former Prosecutor General Alexander Stoianoglo, who is backed by the
pro-Russian Socialist Party.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time and will close
at 9 p.m., with 2,219 polling sites operating nationwide, according to European
Pravda.
In the first round of voting on Oct. 20, Sandu received 42%
of the vote. She advocates for Moldova’s EU membership and cutting ties with
Russia, Reuters
reports.
Stoianoglo, who gained 26% in the first round, has stated he
would support EU integration as president but also aims to maintain relations
with Russia in Moldova’s national interest. He did not rule out a potential
meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Sandu has characterized Stoianoglo as “the Kremlin’s man”
and a political “Trojan horse.” Stoianoglo denies this, arguing that the
president does not care about the interests of ordinary Moldovans. He accuses
Sandu of divisive policies in a country where the majority speaks Romanian and
a minority speaks Russian.
Election background in Moldova
After none of the 11 candidates secured over 50% in the
first round of voting on Oct. 20, Moldova’s Central Election Commission
announced a second round would be held.
A referendum on EU integration was also held on the same
day. Vote counting showed near parity between supporters and opponents, with
50.39% favoring EU membership and 49.61% opposing it.
On Oct. 21, EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano
cited “unprecedented” interference by Russia and its proxies in Moldova’s
elections, during a briefing in Brussels. On Oct. 22, it was reported that
Moldovan authorities are investigating over 400 cases of voter bribery related
to the first round and the referendum.
On Nov. 1, reports emerged that Moldovan citizens had
received anonymous death threats, allegedly from the ruling Party of Action and
Solidarity, ahead of the second-round vote.
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