Moldova to the polls for second round of presidential elections
In the former Soviet republic of Moldova, which is seeking EU membership, residents are heading to the voting booths on Sunday for the second round of the presidential elections. In this runoff, pro-European president Maia Sandu faces her pro-Russian rival Alexandr Stoianoglo.
Pro-Western president Maia Sandu is running for a second term and won in the first round on 20 October with 42.45 per cent against the other ten candidates. She is now up against her pro-Russian rival Alexandr Stoianoglo, who got 25.98 per cent of the votes in the first round.
Sandu is the clear favourite and now hopes to gain the support of the people who voted for the four other pro-European candidates in October. She however also faces criticism, for example concerning a lack of economic and social progress. Stoianoglo, in turn, says he wants to both pursue an EU course and maintain good economic relations with Russia. Opponents, however, see him as a puppet of corrupt oligarchs.
Moldova was recognised as an EU candidate country in June 2022 along with Ukraine, a direct result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier that year. Since the start of that war, there have been fears of the conflict spreading to other countries in the region.
Moldova also held a referendum on EU membership at the same time as the first round of the presidential elections. This referendum was overshadowed by allegations of unauthorised foreign interference. In the end, a narrow majority of 50.46 per cent turned out to have opted for enshrining EU membership in Moldova's constitution.
Polling stations for the second round of the presidential elections are open from 7 am to 9 pm local time, 6 am to 8 pm Belgian time, with results expected in the late evening.
A voter in Moldova, casting his vote for the presidential election at a polling station in Chisinau on 3 November 2024 © BELGA PHOTO Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP
Related news
