Incumbent Maia Sandu wins second term as Moldovan president in runoff marred by interference claims

(4 Nov 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chisinau, Moldova - 4 November 2024
1. Various of incumbent Moldovan President Maia Sandu receiving flowers and being cheered by supporters at her headquarters after winning runoff vote
2. SOUNDBITE (Romanian) Maia Sandu, incumbent Moldovan President:
++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT3++
“Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in history books. Today, you have saved Moldova. No one lost today in our choice for a dignified future. Freedom, truth and justice won. Moldova managed to show its will and power through the votes of each of us. We proved that united we manage to defeat those who wanted to bring us to our knees.”
3. Various of incumbent Moldovan President Maia Sandu receiving flowers and being cheered by supporters at her headquarters after winning runoff vote
STORYLINE:
Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu has won a second term in a pivotal presidential runoff against a Russia-friendly opponent, in a race that was overshadowed by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation in the European Union candidate country.

With nearly 99% of votes counted in the second round of the presidential election held Sunday, Sandu had 55% of the vote, according to the Central Electoral Commission, or CEC, compared to 45% for Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor general who was backed by the pro-Russia Party of Socialists.

The result will be a major relief for the pro-Western government, which strongly backed Sandu’s candidacy, and her push for closer Western ties on Moldova’s path toward the EU.

“Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in history books. Today, you have saved Moldova,” Sandu said after claiming victory after midnight.

She went on to claim that her country's vote had faced an “unprecedented attack" through alleged schemes including dirty money, vote-buying, and electoral interference “by hostile forces from outside the country" and criminal groups.

When polls closed locally at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT), turnout stood at more than 1.68 million people — about 54% of eligible voters, according to the CEC.

Moldova’s large diaspora, which cast ballots in record numbers of more than 325,000 voted, heavily in favour of Sandu in the runoff.

In the first round held October 20, Sandu obtained 42% of the ballot but failed to win an outright majority over the second place Stoianoglo.

The presidential role carries significant powers in areas such as foreign policy and national security and has a four-year term.

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Sandu on her victory, by writing on X: “It takes a rare kind of strength to overcome the challenges you’ve faced in this election."

AP video shot by Nicolae Dumitrache

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