Moldova’s sitting President, Maia Sandu, has been re-elected.
She defeats her opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo with 55.4% of the vote compared to Stoianoglo’s 44.6%, Sandu announced on X on November 4.
Sandu’s victory is regarded as a major win for supporters of Moldova's closer alignment with the European Union.
“We showed that by working together, we can overcome those who try to bring us down,” Sandu told her supporters in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, early on November 4.
Sandu’s pro-European stance faces strong resistance, not only from local political rivals but also from Russia, which she claims is attempting to pull Moldova back into its sphere of influence.
She accused Russia of interfering in the election to prevent Moldova’s EU aspirations, describing it as a “fraud of unprecedented proportions.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Sandu, writing, “Ukraine supports the European choice of the Moldovan people and is ready to work together to strengthen our partnership.”
“Moldovans have made a clear choice—they chose a path toward economic growth and social stability. Only true security and a peaceful, united Europe can guarantee each person and every family the confidence to face tomorrow with hope and certainty,” the Ukrainian President added.
In the initial voting round on October 20, no candidate won a majority, leading to the final runoff between Sandu and the pro-Russian candidate Stoianoglo.
Simultaneously, a close referendum vote passed in support of Moldova’s EU membership aspirations, though it succeeded by just 11,000 votes.
Reflecting on the challenging campaign, Sandu said, “We fought fairly in an unfair fight—and we won. But the fight isn’t over yet.”
Earlier, Moldova’s police chief reported that approximately $40 million had been funneled from Russia to Moldova to sway voters in the election.
