CHISINAU: Moldova’s pro-European Union President Maia Sandu said on Monday that her camp “won justly in an unjust struggle” in an EU referendum and first-round presidential elections marked by claims of Russian interference.
Sandu’s camp narrowly won the referendum, which passed with 50.46 percent of the vote, marking a significant moment for the former Soviet republic that borders war-torn Ukraine.
“This was an unjust struggle, but we won justly,” Sandu said late Sunday, accusing foreign forces hostile to Moldova’s national interests of attempting to disrupt the vote. She called the election an “unprecedented assault” on democracy, blaming “criminal groups” collaborating with outside actors.
The Kremlin denied the accusations, challenging Sandu to provide evidence of interference in Moldova’s election. Russia also pointed to alleged “anomalies” in Moldova’s vote count.
Held concurrently with the first round of the presidential election, the referendum was a critical test for Moldova’s future alignment with the European Union.
Sandu, 52, a former World Bank economist and Moldova’s first woman president, topped the first round of the presidential elections, securing over 42 percent of the vote. However, she now faces a tougher contest in the second round on November 3 against Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor backed by pro-Russian forces, who gained 26 percent of the vote.
Speaking after the first-round results, Sandu expressed her determination to continue the fight, saying, “We have won the first battle in a difficult fight that will determine the future of our country.” She also acknowledged calls from voters for stronger efforts to fight corruption, adding, “We heard you: we know we must do more to fight corruption.”
Meanwhile, Stoianoglo described the election results as a “resounding and shameful failure” for the government, vowing to push for the “restoration of justice” and a balanced foreign policy. The 57-year-old abstained from voting in the EU referendum.
The European Union condemned Russia’s “unprecedented interference and intimidation” in the voting process. European leaders such as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola congratulated Moldova for its determination and bravery in the face of challenges.
The results highlighted deep divisions in the country. Crisis Group’s senior EU analyst, Marta Mucznik, noted, “Both Brussels and Chisinau must brace for rising tensions and reconsider their strategies if they are to effectively promote the prospect of EU membership.”
