Moldova’s incumbent pro-European Union (EU) president, Maia Sandu, has emerged victorious in a heated presidential runoff held on November 3. Official data from the Central Election Committee (CEC) confirms Sandu’s re-election with 55.33 percent of the vote, overtaking her opponent, former prosecutor general Aleksandr Stoianoglo, who received 44.67 percent. However, Sandu’s win is shadowed by accusations of voter irregularities and interference claims that the opposition has capitalized on to challenge her legitimacy.

The CEC announced on Monday that with all votes counted, Sandu would retain her position as president for another term. She initially declared victory on November 4, when about 98 percent of the ballots had been processed, showing her leading by a significant ten-point margin. The final results reflected an official turnout of 54.31 percent among registered voters, surpassing Moldova’s 20 percent threshold for validating election outcomes. However, the Socialists, Moldova’s largest opposition party, have refused to accept the outcome, declaring Stoianoglo the “true winner” of the election and claiming widespread irregularities in the voting process.

Maia Sandu’s path to victory in this election relied heavily on support from the Moldovan diaspora, particularly those residing in Western European countries. In the first round of voting last month, Sandu garnered 42 percent of the vote compared to Stoianoglo’s 26 percent, with overseas voters playing a critical role in propelling her campaign. Although she won the first round, her vote share fell short of the 50 percent majority needed to avoid a runoff.

On November 3rd runoff, Moldovans abroad again lent Sandu considerable backing. However, the Socialists have criticized the weight of the diaspora vote, referring to Sandu as a “president of the........

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