Berliner Boersenzeitung - EU hails re-election of pro-EU Maia Sandu in tense Moldova vote

EUR -
AED 4.269035
AFN 80.781812
ALL 97.456094
AMD 446.576198
ANG 2.080099
AOA 1065.794205
ARS 1494.414015
AUD 1.786168
AWG 2.092071
AZN 1.980459
BAM 1.952133
BBD 2.345793
BDT 141.045021
BGN 1.956323
BHD 0.43834
BIF 3400.777093
BMD 1.162261
BND 1.491298
BOB 8.027918
BRL 6.486005
BSD 1.161817
BTN 100.019096
BWP 15.598695
BYN 3.802157
BYR 22780.325028
BZD 2.333716
CAD 1.596192
CDF 3354.287055
CHF 0.932807
CLF 0.029182
CLP 1119.862642
CNY 8.342655
CNH 8.346165
COP 4657.181754
CRC 586.298532
CUC 1.162261
CUP 30.799929
CVE 110.589638
CZK 24.634179
DJF 206.557568
DKK 7.463699
DOP 70.259163
DZD 151.472937
EGP 57.439973
ERN 17.433922
ETB 158.653194
FJD 2.620788
FKP 0.866542
GBP 0.866519
GEL 3.150183
GGP 0.866542
GHS 12.116623
GIP 0.866542
GMD 83.106172
GNF 10060.535793
GTQ 8.920242
GYD 243.073343
HKD 9.117767
HNL 30.626041
HRK 7.532663
HTG 152.54342
HUF 398.923459
IDR 18977.696027
ILS 3.902549
IMP 0.866542
INR 100.129761
IQD 1522.56254
IRR 48945.741055
ISK 142.354235
JEP 0.866542
JMD 185.790958
JOD 0.824089
JPY 172.949203
KES 150.51728
KGS 101.640213
KHR 4672.291561
KMF 491.989694
KPW 1046.077104
KRW 1616.942576
KWD 0.355234
KYD 0.968181
KZT 619.356427
LAK 25064.169244
LBP 104080.516031
LKR 350.521482
LRD 233.614962
LSL 20.595717
LTL 3.431856
LVL 0.703041
LYD 6.311522
MAD 10.521377
MDL 19.762872
MGA 5148.818764
MKD 61.444565
MMK 2439.88243
MNT 4168.596049
MOP 9.392835
MRU 46.281692
MUR 53.119698
MVR 17.903172
MWK 2018.271404
MXN 21.795313
MYR 4.935007
MZN 74.338683
NAD 20.595712
NGN 1779.387897
NIO 42.713547
NOK 11.840776
NPR 160.030354
NZD 1.948796
OMR 0.447149
PAB 1.161817
PEN 4.142886
PGK 4.804212
PHP 66.377189
PKR 331.157397
PLN 4.244708
PYG 8992.106697
QAR 4.231334
RON 5.072695
RSD 117.06767
RUB 91.265035
RWF 1670.750879
SAR 4.359791
SBD 9.64543
SCR 16.424358
SDG 697.942292
SEK 11.235354
SGD 1.492697
SHP 0.913355
SLE 26.62005
SLL 24372.046713
SOS 664.236693
SRD 43.245469
STD 24056.466061
STN 24.843339
SVC 10.165902
SYP 15112.221726
SZL 20.595702
THB 37.634455
TJS 11.182492
TMT 4.079538
TND 3.367657
TOP 2.722137
TRY 46.923174
TTD 7.887182
TWD 34.181766
TZS 3028.605902
UAH 48.520146
UGX 4163.178714
USD 1.162261
UYU 46.822036
UZS 14728.762822
VES 135.943958
VND 30404.760344
VUV 139.137302
WST 3.060577
XAF 654.732599
XAG 0.030439
XAU 0.000347
XCD 3.14107
XCG 2.093866
XDR 0.81565
XOF 654.353599
XPF 119.331742
YER 280.163552
ZAR 20.584075
ZMK 10461.752209
ZMW 26.750744
ZWL 374.247723
  • CMSC

    0.0900

    22.314

    +0.4%

  • CMSD

    0.0250

    22.285

    +0.11%

  • RBGPF

    0.0000

    69.04

    0%

  • SCS

    0.0400

    10.74

    +0.37%

  • RELX

    0.0300

    53

    +0.06%

  • RIO

    -0.1400

    59.33

    -0.24%

  • GSK

    0.1300

    41.45

    +0.31%

  • NGG

    0.2700

    71.48

    +0.38%

  • BP

    0.1750

    30.4

    +0.58%

  • BTI

    0.7150

    48.215

    +1.48%

  • BCC

    0.7900

    91.02

    +0.87%

  • JRI

    0.0200

    13.13

    +0.15%

  • VOD

    0.0100

    9.85

    +0.1%

  • BCE

    -0.0600

    22.445

    -0.27%

  • RYCEF

    0.1000

    12

    +0.83%

  • AZN

    -0.1200

    73.71

    -0.16%

EU hails re-election of pro-EU Maia Sandu in tense Moldova vote
EU hails re-election of pro-EU Maia Sandu in tense Moldova vote / Photo: Daniel MIHAILESCU - AFP

EU hails re-election of pro-EU Maia Sandu in tense Moldova vote

The European Union on Monday welcomed the re-election of Moldova's pro-European President Maia Sandu, in a tense vote that has laid bare divisions in the former Soviet republic bordering war-torn Ukraine.

Text size:

Backed by the country's large diaspora, Sandu won 55.41 percent of votes, according to near-complete results published by the election commission.

Her rival, Alexandr Stoianoglo, who is supported by the pro-Russian Socialists, won 44.59 percent.

Sunday's key vote was overshadowed by allegations of Russian meddling. It took place just two weeks after a referendum in which Moldavans voted by a razor-thin margin to back joining the EU.

"Moldovans have shown once again their determination to build a European future despite hybrid attempts to undermine democracy," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell posted on X on Monday.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated Sandu on her re-election and the country's "European future".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sandu had "safely guided the Republic of Moldova through difficult times and set her country's European course".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Sandu, saying: "Only true security and a peaceful, united Europe can guarantee each person and every family the confidence to face tomorrow with hope and certainty."

- 'Heard your voice' -

Sandu owed her victory to Moldovans living abroad, many of them in EU countries. The 52-year-old former World Bank economist lost in the territory of Moldova itself, election results showed.

Moldova is deeply polarised. A large diaspora and the capital mostly favour joining the EU, while rural areas and the pro-Russian separatist regions of Transnistria and Gagauzia are against.

In a conciliatory speech mostly in Romanian, the country's official language, but also in parts in Russian, Sandu vowed to be a "president for all".

"I have heard your voice -– both from those who support me and those who voted differently," she said.

"No matter your voting choice, we all want to live in peace, in harmony, and to have a better life. I assure you that this is my primary goal for the coming years."

Russia has been accused of seeking to sway voters in both Moldova and in Georgia, another former Soviet republic, where the ruling party won a contested parliamentary election last month.

Moscow has denied the allegations.

"Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in history books... Freedom, truth, and justice have prevailed," Sandu said.

Her rival Stoianoglo, 57, whom Sandu fired as prosecutor general last year, urged people "to remain calm, regardless of the figures" as early results were coming in.

He did not speak again after Sandu claimed victory.

Moldovan authorities reported "attacks, provocations and attempts at destabilisation" on Sunday.

Police said they were investigating Russia's alleged use of "organised transportation" to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Turkey so people living in Russia could vote at Moldovan diplomatic missions in those countries.

Cyberattacks and fake bomb threats also targeted out-of-country voting operations, authorities said.

- 'Needs help' -

Turnout was higher than in the first round on October 20, when Sandu came out ahead with 42.5 percent and runner-up Stoianoglo obtained 26 percent.

"Maia Sandu is our only chance for the youth to have a future and to remain here," 19-year-old student Ana-Maria Simon told AFP in Chisinau on Monday.

Sandu applied for Moldova to join the 27-member EU after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Membership negotiations formally began in June.

In the October 20 referendum, 50.35 percent backed EU membership.

Sandu blamed "foreign interference" for the narrow result in the country of 2.6 million people.

Police said they uncovered a Russian vote-buying scheme that could have affected up to a quarter of the ballots.

"Russia had an influence... but this is not the only reason why 44 percent of people voted for Stoianoglo," Lucian Cristea, a 27-year-old student, told AFP.

The diaspora vote "tipped the election", said Florent Parmentier, a political scientist at Paris-based Sciences Po, noting Sandu's "dependence on the outside".

To maintain its pro-EU course, Moldova needs "a lot of help", given "the hybrid war waged by Russia", according to Andrei Curararu, an analyst at the Chisinau-based WatchDog think tank.

"It will not succeed on its own," he said.

burs-ani-anb/jza/gil

(U.Gruber--BBZ)