The United States has hailed Moldova’s recent presidential election and referendum as “well-organized and competitive,” despite what it described as significant efforts by Russia to undermine the democratic process.
In a statement released on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of trying to prevent Moldovan citizens from choosing their future, alleging attempts to bribe voters and spread disinformation. Despite these actions, a majority of voters backed a constitutional amendment aimed at accelerating Moldova’s bid to join the European Union.
Mr Blinken also expressed concerns about potential Russian interference in the second round of Moldova’s presidential election, scheduled for 3 November. He said the US would continue to support Moldova’s efforts to safeguard the credibility and transparency of the vote.
In the first round of voting on 20 October, no candidate secured the 50% required to win outright. Incumbent President Maia Sandu, a pro-European candidate from the Action and Solidarity Party, led the race with 42.45% of the vote. Her main rival, former prosecutor general Alexander Stojanoglo of the pro-Russian Socialist Party, received 25.98%.
The two candidates will face each other in a run-off next month.
On the same day as the election, a referendum on Moldova’s European integration was narrowly approved, with 50.46% of voters supporting the constitutional amendment to advance the country’s EU membership. Moldova was granted candidate status in June 2022, and negotiations on accession began in December 2023.
The Moldovan government had accused Russia and exiled oligarch Ilan Shor of attempting to influence the outcome of the referendum by bribing voters. President Sandu condemned what she called an “unprecedented attack on democracy” by foreign forces.
Mr Stojanoglo, meanwhile, accused the Moldovan authorities of using state resources to control the Central Election Commission and influence the election in their favour.
