Moldova’s presidential election was a highly contested runoff between incumbent President Maia Sandu and former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo. Sandu, who won the first round, secured a majority of votes in the second round, earning her a second term as president.
This election was significant, as it was seen as a choice between the West and Russia, with Sandu representing the pro-European Union side and Stoianoglo the pro-Russian side.
Sandu’s victory was considered a major relief for the current government, which strongly backed her candidacy and her push for closer Western ties on Moldova’s path toward the European Union.
During the campaign, Sandu accused Stoianoglo of being a “Trojan horse” candidate for outside interests wanting control of Moldova.
Stoianoglo denied working on behalf of Russia, claiming he was in favour of joining the EU, but boycotted the EU membership referendum, calling it a “parody”
The election was not without controversy, as Moldovan authorities accused Russian-trained groups of plotting to destabilize the election.
There were reports of organized and illegal transportation of voters to Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.
Additionally, bomb threats temporarily disrupted the operations of overseas polling stations in the United Kingdom and Germany.
