Moldova's pro-Western president wins 2nd term in runoff amid Russian meddling claims

Moldova’s President Maia Sandu won a second term on Sunday in a pivotal election for the EU candidate country, defeating Russia-backed opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo in a runoff.

With almost 100% of votes counted, Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission announced that Sandu led with over 55%, compared to Stoianoglo’s 45%. Her win is a boost for Moldova’s pro-European aspirations, though the election was marred by allegations of Russian interference, voter fraud, and voter intimidation.

The race between Sandu, a pro-European reformer, and Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor backed by the Socialist Party, has drawn significant international attention.

Moldova, a small post-Soviet nation nestled between Ukraine and Romania, has long been a point of competition between Moscow and the West. Sandu’s campaign emphasized reforms, anti-corruption, and a clear path toward EU membership, while Stoianoglo has promoted closer ties with Russia.

Election clouded by Russian interference claims

Moldovan and international analysts voiced concerns about alleged Russian interference that impacted the election’s atmosphere and raised questions about electoral integrity.

Valeriu Pasha, chairman of Moldovan think tank WatchDog.MD, called Russia’s involvement “unprecedented” in scale and scope. This election was a “unique exercise, not only for Moldova, but for all democracies,” he told VOA.

Pasha cited a broad range of tactics allegedly used by Russia to influence the results.

“Russia deployed all possible and imaginable methods to influence elections, starting from overwhelming disinformation, informational interference, basic vote buying,’’ Pasha said. ‘’They used organized crime. They used the Orthodox Church. They used media influence. They illegally funded the electoral campaigns of multiple candidates during these elections. They used corruption in the state institution. So, Russia used the whole playbook of authoritarian interference in a foreign election and a scale that never happened anywhere around the world,” Pasha said.

Pasha estimated that Moscow funneled over $150 million into Stoianoglo’s campaign and supporting efforts — a vast amount for Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe.

Russian actions are “about keeping Moldova within its orbit,” he said, which for Russia means retaining a foothold in Eastern Europe and countering the EU’s influence in the regio

Stanislav Secrieru, Sandu’s senior national security adviser, added to these concerns, posting on social media on the day of the election that “massive Russian interference” sought to distort the election’s outcome. Moldovan authorities tightened election security in response, while citizens reported widespread disinformation and a surge in online propaganda throughout the campaign.

Russia has denied meddling in the election.

Alleged Russian tactics divide Moldovan society

Russia’s alleged interference tactics in Moldova have polarized society, sparking deep divides over the country’s future. According to Pasha, the Russian interference contributed to a climate of polarization that will likely persist beyond the election.

“We found ourselves the morning after the election, with a very divided society, with very polarized society, with an incredibly high level of social anxiety. All these factors will transform into long-term vulnerabilities and Moldova will have to fight a lot to overcome the negative impact of all this interference,’’ Pasha told VOA, warning of ongoing threats to Moldova’s stability and democratic integrity.

Moldovan member of Parliament Sinchevici Eugeniu, in an interview with VOA, echoed these concerns. He highlighted that many voters in Moldova’s poorest communities are vulnerable to vote-buying schemes because of their economic conditions.

“100 euros per vote is a big sum of money, and this poverty is what Russia uses,” Sinchevici explained.

Moldovan expatriates, especially those in the European Union, supported Sandu’s pro-European stance and were less likely to be influenced by disinformation or bribes, according to Sinchevici. “They’ve seen Europe and won’t be fooled by fake news,” he noted, underscoring the gap between Moldova’s domestic voters and those abroad.

Focus on judicial reform, parliamentary elections

With a parliamentary election due next year, Moldova’s political future hangs in the balance. Sinchevici stressed the importance of learning from this election. “We have learned our lessons, heard the people’s message,” he said. “We will work hard to unite the country and move forward to the parliamentary elections.”

He also emphasized the need for swift judicial reform. “We need to act fast and we need to act decisive,” he stated, adding that Sandu is expected to outline her plans for judicial reform in the coming months.

Pasha similarly called for urgent reforms to combat corruption and counter Russian disinformation. He urged Moldova’s allies, particularly the EU, to support these efforts.

“Moldova cannot resist on its own. Moldova is too small. Russia invests incredible amounts of resources. They are very skilled in all these dirty political technologies. So we need, in the time remaining before the parliamentary elections, and we are talking about eight, nine months, not more, to invest a lot in the democratic institutions, in the independent media,” he warned, noting that the upcoming parliamentary election could face even more intense interference.