Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu faces an uphill battle to win a second term in an election runoff this Sunday which if she loses could allow Moscow to gain more influence in the small Eastern European nation.
Sandu, a 52-year-old former World Bank advisert, has accelerated the nation’s push to move away from Moscow’s orbit during her four-year term. In June, Chisinau began the process of EU accession talks.
“It will be an uphill struggle (for Sandu) with internal grievances, but also external pressure and meddling,” Orysia Lutsevych, deputy director of Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia program was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia.
She faces Aleksandr Stoianoglo, an ex-prosecutor general backed by the traditionally pro-Russian Socialist Party. He says that he would back EU integration as well as improve relations with Russia.
Although she won 42 percent at the first round to Stoianoglo’s 26 percent, other pro-Russia candidates are expected direct their voters to Stoianoglo in the runoff.
Sandu, whose term saw a deterioration of ties with Moscow, has called Stoianoglo a “Trojan Horse” candidate for foreign interests maneuvering to control Moldova.
The first round of the elections and a referendum held at the same time on the nation’s EU aspirations on Oct 20 were marred by what officials said a massive vote-buying scheme of run by Russian-backed fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.
Sandu has said the scheme sought to pay off 300,000 voters, more than 10 per cent of the population. Moscow has denied any role, and Shor denies any wrongdoing
Sandu won the referendum by a close margin, buoyed by votes from Moldovans living abroad.
Sunday’s vote comes after a parliamentary election in Georgia, another ex-Soviet country trying to join the EU, where a ruling party seen by many in the West as increasingly pro-Russian claimed victory.
US ‘concerned’ Russia will disrupt Moldova presidential runoff
