Pro-EU President Maia Sandu precedes pro-Russian candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo with nearly 91% of the votes counted.
Moldovans voted in a essential presidential runoff on Sunday, the place pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu confronted off in opposition to a Russia-friendly challenger.
Sandu has a slight benefit – 50.47% – over Alexandr Stoianoglo who slipped behind at 49.53% with 90.90% of the votes counted.
This election was marred by allegations of voter fraud, election interference and intimidation, elevating considerations concerning the state of democracy in an EU candidate nation.
In the primary spherical, on October 20, Sandu obtained 42% of the votes however didn’t acquire an absolute majority. That pressured her to face Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former lawyer common, who exceeded expectations by garnering almost 26% within the first spherical.
Moldovan police monitoring the polls on Sunday stated that they had “cheap proof” of organized transport of voters, unlawful below the nation’s electoral code, which allegedly occurred each throughout the nation and overseas.
Authorities are at present investigating and gathering proof associated to air transport actions from Russia to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
According to the police, “Such measures are taken to guard the integrity of the electoral course of and to make sure that each citizen’s vote is forged freely with out undue stress or affect.”
In a submit on the social media platform
Sandu, in the meantime, urged Moldovans to defend the nation’s independence by voting.
After voting in Chisinau, Sandu stated: “Today greater than ever we have to be united, preserve the peace, preserve our vote, preserve our independence.”
“Thieves wish to purchase our vote, thieves wish to purchase our nation, however the energy of the folks is infinitely higher,” he advised reporters.
Stoianoglo, in the meantime, insisted that neither he nor the Socialist Party have been concerned in vote-buying and stated he had no ties to the Kremlin.
Moldova’s Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, stated folks throughout the nation had obtained “nameless dying threats through cellphone calls”, calling it “an excessive assault” to scare voters.
“These acts of intimidation have just one objective: to create panic and concern,” Recean stated in an announcement. “I guarantee you that state establishments will assure order and shield residents.”
