Moldova's pro-West president wins 2nd term

Moldovan President Maia Sandu — 'Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy'

(Image credit: Daniel Mihailescu / AFP via Getty Images)

What happened

Moldova's president, Maia Sandu, won a second term Sunday. Sandu, a 52-year-old former World Bank adviser who is pushing her ex-Soviet satellite country to join the European Union, beat former prosecutor Alexandr Stoianoglo 55% to 45% in a second round of voting.

"Moldova, you are victorious!" Sandu said early Monday. "Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in history books. Today, you have saved Moldova!" As with the first round, she said Russia had aggressively meddled during the campaign to swing power to Stoianoglo, who heads a traditionally pro-Moscow party. Russia denied interfering. Georgia, another ex-Soviet country seeking EU membership, reelected a Russia-friendly prime minister last week, in an election its president called a "Russian special operation."

"It takes a rare kind of strength to overcome the challenges you've faced in this election," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Sandu on X. "I'm glad to continue working with you towards a European future for Moldova and its people." Moldova, "sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania," has "seesawed between East and West since it gained independence in 1991," The New York Times said.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.