- Moldova’s pro-EU leader Sandu re-elected
- Sandu won with 54.94% of the vote
- The victory follows a recent referendum on closer ties with the EU
Moldova’s pro-EU leader Sandu re-elected
Maia Sandu, Moldova’s pro-European Union (EU) leader, has secured re-election in a closely watched presidential runoff. Sandu won with 54.94% of the vote, defeating Alexandr Stoianoglo, a candidate supported by the pro-Russian Socialist party, who garnered 45.06%, according to nearly complete results from the election commission. The victory follows a recent referendum in which Moldovans narrowly backed closer ties with the EU.
The election was marked by tensions and claims of interference by Moscow, adding to the stakes for the small, ex-Soviet state situated between Ukraine and the EU. Sandu, who has positioned herself as a strong pro-EU figure, hailed the outcome as a “lesson in democracy.”
Sandu’s rival, Stoianoglo, previously served as prosecutor general before being dismissed by Sandu’s administration last year, which had fueled political contention.
