Presidential elections were held in Moldova. As the Central Electoral Commission reported on Sunday evening, incumbent President Maia Sandu is leading with 35.8 percent after 55 percent of the votes have been counted. In a simultaneously held referendum on including the country's entry into the European Union into the constitution, after counting the votes of 59 percent of the committee, 55.5 percent of people chose the answer “no”.
The information provided by the Central Electoral Commission on Sunday evening shows that Maia Sandu is in the lead with 35.8 percent. These are data after counting votes from 55 percent of electoral commissions.
In second place is former Attorney General Alexander Stoianoglo, supported by the Socialist Party, with 29.1 percent support.
Third place goes to Renato Usatii with 14.5 percent.
Constitutional referendum
Maia Sandu is the favorite in this election, although there may be a second round.
In parallel with the elections, a referendum initiated by Sandu was held in which Moldovans answered the question whether European integration should be included in the constitution as a strategic goal of the state.
Campaigning on election day was prohibited, but when voting, candidates recalled the main slogans of their programs. Sandu called on citizens to participate in the referendum and make “two important decisions for the future of the country.”
– Our vote in the referendum will determine our fate for many decades to come – she argued.
Stoianoglo said that if he wins, he will make his first visit to (separatist) Transnistria. Usatii, former mayor of Bielce, argued by putting his vote into the ballot box that he was voting for “stability and changes for the better”. At the same time, he said that he did not take part in the referendum.
Voter turnout when polls closed was 51.4 percent.
162,000 people have already taken part in the vote abroad. As the news agency writes Institute of National Remembrancea chart showing voters voting outside the country indicated a higher turnout than in the 2020 elections. The diaspora in the West – as usual – is very active.
The counting of votes cast in the constitutional referendum is also underway. So far, 59 percent of the votes have been counted. 44.6 percent of voters voted “yes” and 55.5 percent voted “no”. The referendum question concerned the inclusion of Eurointegration in the constitution. Moldova.
Voter turnout in the presidential elections was 51.58 percent, according to data released after 11 p.m. local time.
Russian hybrid actions
According to the authorities in Chisinau, before the elections, Russian hybrid activities have become even more intense than before, aimed at torpedoing the pro-Western government's policy and presenting the EU in a negative light. These include information campaigns and the illegal transfer of money to the country for pro-Russian activists and politicians, as well as money used to buy voters' votes, on an unprecedented scale.
The media noticed that in Russia queues formed in front of the voting stations at the Moldovan embassy. Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which previously explained that due to the limited number of staff it was possible to open only two polling stations, accused Moscow of “the crowd was created artificially to threaten the electoral process.” The local authorities were also appealed to prevent “illegal transport of voters to the polling stations.”
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/DUMITRU DORU