Moldova’s pro-Western government won local local elections, but failed to win the capital and other major cities.
In a blow to President Maia Sandu’s drive to move closer to European, the incumbent mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban seen as an ally of Moscow has won re-election in the Moldovan capital, results show.
Ceban was pro-Russian but created a pro-European party last year, which critics said was designed merely to broaden his base.
Sunday’s elections in the country of about 2.5 million people, which lies between EU-member Romania and Ukraine, took place amid accusations by Moldovan authorities that Russia was meddling to influence the outcome.
Moldova’s second-largest city Balti will go to a runoff after none of the candidates obtained a clear majority. Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity came fourth.
In Orhei, the candidate who is closely linked to a Russia-friendly exiled Moldovan oligarch, Ilan Shor, won outright in the first round. Shor was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison in April for his role in a $1 billion bank corruption scandal.
Sandu accused Russia of meddling in the Nov. 5 local elections.
A pro-Russian party was barred from the race two days before the vote adding to tensions in the former Soviet republic which lies between EU-member Romania and Ukraine.
Sunday’s poll is the last national vote before presidential elections in November 2024.
Sandu has denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of trying to topple her government.
Last week, she accused Russia of spending $5 million to ‘buy’ voters by funnelling money to groups run by fugitive businessman Ilan Shor, who has been convicted in absentia for fraud.
On Friday, the Chance party, also associated with Shor, was barred from the vote on security grounds. Disqualified Chance candidates urged voters to back candidates deemed independents.
Responding to Sandu’s comments last week, Russia’s foreign ministry called the Moldovan president a „disgrace” and said she was trying to distract attention from her government’s failings.
Moldova blocks more than 20 Russian media sites ⋆ Universul.net
