Presidential elections in Moldova. The second round is on Sunday

Polling stations are open to voters from 7 a.m. (6 in Poland) until 21 (20 in Poland). Voters will receive one ballot card containing the names of the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round: Maia Sandu and Alexander Stoianoglo.

Sandu in the first round of elections on October 20, she won 42.45 percent votes, a Stoianoglo – almost 26 percent These results, as well as the very slight victory of the supporters of European integration in the referendum (50.35%), came as a surprise to the Sandu camp and most commentators. Polls before the second round give Sandu a slight advantage, but experts warn that the election result is difficult to predict.

Sandu, who is fighting for re-election, supported by the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), indicates that the main goal of her government is to Moldova to the European Union and closer contacts with the West.

Stoianoglo entered the elections as the candidate of the pro-Russian socialist party. During the campaign, Stoianoglo positioned himself as a pro-European candidate, at the same time appealing for good relations with Russia. However, he did not support the referendum promoted by Sandu on including European integration in the constitution, claiming that it was the president's “political technology”.

Sandu called Stoianoglo a Russian “Trojan horse”, and most experts believe that in the current campaign Stoianoglo is “Moscow's candidate”. He himself claims that he is apolitical and wants to be “the president of everyone.”

Sunday's vote will be based on the same electoral lists as in the first round. 1,988 polling stations were established on the territory of Moldova, including 30 polling stations for Moldovan citizens from the separatist Transnistria. 231 polling stations will be opened outside Moldova – in 37 countries.

Voters who cannot come to the polling station for health reasons may vote at home. A total of 3.6 million ballots were printed, of which 2.8 million were for voting in the country, and over 800 thousand – abroad. IN USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finlandcitizens of Moldova have the opportunity to vote by correspondence.

Once all votes are counted, the candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner.

The second round of voting will be monitored by over 2.4 thousand people. national and international observers accredited to the Central Electoral Commission. On election day, canvassing is prohibited.

The Moldovan pro-European authorities are alarming that in connection with the presidential elections and the referendum, an unprecedented campaign of electoral bribery is taking place in the country, organized by the fugitive oligarch Ilan Sor, working in cooperation with Moscow. Police data indicate that Russia allocated several dozen million dollars to interfere in the Moldovan elections. Only in September and October, the country was supposed to receive $39 million. In the so-called The Sora network, which aims to recruit people and buy votes, was said to have at least 130,000 people involved. people.

After the first round of elections, Sandu stated that the purpose of this “attack on democracy” was to bribe 300,000 people. voters.

Police conduct searches and investigative operations daily in an attempt to dismantle the Sora network. At least 3.5 million lei (approx. PLN 800,000) in fines have already been imposed for passive electoral corruption.

In addition, the authorities talk about other activities of Moscow, such as disinformation campaigns, voter intimidation, threatening e-mails and phone calls, as well as the expected organized transport of voters from the separatist Transnistria. On Saturday, information appeared about “free transports” of Moldovan citizens from Moscow via Turkey.