Voting: Moldova decides on head of state in runoff election

In the ex-Soviet republic of Moldova, which is aspiring to join the EU, people are electing their new head of state in a runoff election today. Pro-European President Maia Sandu is running for a second term. The 52-year-old head of state prevailed against another ten candidates in the first round on October 20th with 42.45 percent of the vote. Now former Attorney General Alexandr Stoianoglo is challenging her. Two weeks ago he received 25.98 percent of the vote and is running for the Socialist Party of Moscow-friendly former President Igor Dodon. The outcome of the election is considered open.

Moldova lies between EU member Romania and Ukraine, but is also heavily under Russian influence. Like Ukraine, the country is a candidate for EU membership.

The pro-European Sandu is criticized for a lack of economic and social progress. Before the election, she announced that she would continue her reform-oriented course. Many people are also annoyed that energy costs are rising after Sandu stopped using Russian gas. In addition to an EU course, the 57-year-old Stoianoglo also wants good economic relations with Russia. Opponents see him as a puppet of corrupt oligarchs.

EU referendum two weeks ago

Eligible voters in Moldova complained that they had been called in advance and asked to vote for Stoianoglo. Security authorities in the capital Chisinau also recently uncovered disinformation and voter buying by pro-Russian forces. Nevertheless, two weeks ago in the agricultural country, Sandu won a referendum on anchoring the EU course in the constitution, which was scheduled to coincide with the election, with a wafer-thin majority. The deciding factor was the hundreds of thousands of Moldovans who live abroad – especially in the EU.

Nevertheless, there was also criticism from Sandu’s supporters that she had linked the presidential election with such an important constitutional referendum in a confusing way and at an inappropriate time. Many EU supporters also boycotted the referendum, but there was no majority in favor of it in Moldova itself.

Moldova has around 2.5 million inhabitants and is traditionally torn between the West and Russia. In addition to citizens in the country, hundreds of thousands of Moldovans who live abroad – mainly in the EU – and in the breakaway Transnistria region controlled by Russia are called to vote. The polling stations in the country are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (6 a.m. to 8 p.m. CET). Significant results are expected late in the evening. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is also in the country with election observers.