11 candidates competed in the presidential election. Prowest Maia Sandu, a candidate for re-election, won 41.91% of the vote after counting the results from 97.7% of the election commissions. Second place is Alexander Stoianoglo, a candidate supported by the traditionally pro-Russian socialist party. The 3rd position is Renato Usatii, the erstwhile mayor of Bielc, the second largest city in Moldova.
After Sandu seemingly failed to win an absolute majority, the female would compete with Stoianoglo in the second circular of the election.
After counting the votes of 98% of the electoral commissions, the results of the referendum on the introduction of Euro-Inclusion into the Constitution are almost equally divided, with somewhat more support for responses Yes.
Money for votes
Speaking at an emergency press conference, erstwhile the number of votes exceeded 90%, Sandu said criminal groups working with abroad forces utilized tens of millions of euros, lies and propagandato leave Moldova in a trap of uncertainty and instability.
We have evidence that these criminal groups were going to buy 300,000 votes as part of an unprecedented fraud. Their goal was to undermine the democratic process, spread fear and panic in society “She said Sandu and added.” We will proceed to defend democracy and freedom. We're waiting for the final results, and we're going to answer with tough decisions..
According to information from the Moldovan authorities, a criminal group led by the escaped oligarch Ilan Sora created a network to fund electoral bribes. People received money for voting against the current president and Euro-Inclusion. As the end of the vote is approaching, run informers warned that the votes of diaspora voters surviving in EU countries have not yet been taken into account. 2 sources acquainted with this process expressed concerns that the pro-EU run was not successful.
More than 1.56 million people took part in a national referendum, which importantly exceeds the required 1 3rd of the vote for the plebiscite to be valid. The results of the referendum can affect the geopolitical future of Moldova for many years.
Who's Maia Sandu?
Maia Sandu was born on May 24, 1972 in Risipeni. In Chisinau, she received a management education and graduated from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 2010.
In 2016, she first applied for the position of President, moving as a joint typical of the Action and Solidarity organization and the Platform of Dignity and fact party. Although she reached the second round, she yet had to admit defeat by losing to Igor Dodon of the Socialist organization of the Republic of Moldova. In the 2020 presidential election, she faced Dodon again in the second round. This time she won and on December 24, 2020 became the first female in Moldovan past to take office as president.
