Moldova's diaspora tipped the scales in a pivotal election. Critics question the vote's validity

CHISINAU, Moldova -- Moldovans surviving overseas voted successful grounds numbers successful a statesmanlike runoff that secured victory for pro-Western President Maia Sandu, successful a pivotal title that pitted her against a Russia-friendly force amid ongoing claims of Russian interference, elector fraud, and intimidation.

Sandu's win, connected a run committedness to beforehand Moldova's candidacy for European Union membership, was a awesome boon for nan pro-Western government, which powerfully backed her candidacy.

However, her opponents declare her triumph relied excessively overmuch connected Moldovans surviving extracurricular nan state — which has a organization of astir 2.5 million, excluding expatriates — to beryllium considered legitimate.

With 100% of ballots counted successful nan 2nd information of Sunday's statesmanlike election, Sandu obtained 55.33% of nan vote, according to nan Central Electoral Commission, compared to 44.67% for Alexandr Stoianoglo, who was backed by nan pro-Russia Party of Socialists.

A grounds number of 327,000 voters formed ballots overseas successful nan runoff, much than 82% of whom favored Sandu. But wrong Moldova, Stoianoglo, a erstwhile charismatic general, obtained 51.3% of nan vote, compared to Sandu's 48.67%.

Although nan erstwhile Soviet republic signed a woody pinch nan EU successful 2014 to forge person governmental and economical ties, years of rampant corruption and deficiency of betterment hindered development, and an exodus of hundreds of thousands of citizens sought amended futures abroad.

Former president Igor Dodon, nan leader of nan pro-Moscow Party of Socialists, was speedy to mobility Sandu’s electoral triumph by telling Russia’s authorities news agency, TASS, that she has go “a president of nan diaspora” and suggested it undermined nan vote, noting Stoianoglo “won nan statesmanlike elections wrong nan country.”

Dodon's statement stated successful a station connected societal media connected Monday that it did not admit nan results, calling Sandu “an illegitimate president, recognized only by her sponsors and supporters abroad” and claimed Moldovans “feel betrayed and robbed."

Cristian Cantir, a Moldovan subordinate professor of world relations astatine Oakland University, told nan AP that nan guidance from pro-Moscow politicians “was to beryllium expected” since they person “criticized nan diaspora ballot successful nan past, particularly votes by Moldovans" domiciled successful Western countries.

“This connection astir illegitimacy and nan diaspora will beryllium utilized to amplify 1 circumstantial Kremlin talking point," he said, “that pro-EU politicians aren’t really celebrated successful Moldova, and that they’re only staying successful powerfulness pinch support from nan diaspora successful nan West, arsenic good arsenic Western countries.”

Moldova's diaspora besides played a cardinal domiciled successful a nationalist referendum connected Oct. 20, erstwhile a razor-thin mostly of 50.35% voted to unafraid Moldova’s path toward EU membership. Like Georgia and neighboring Ukraine, Moldova aspires to subordinate nan EU but is caught successful a changeless geopolitical tug betwixt Moscow and nan West.

In a triumph connection early Monday, Sandu told voters they had “given a instruction successful democracy, worthy of being written successful history books” and besides noted nan important domiciled nan diaspora played successful her reelection.

“Our diaspora has fixed america yet different instruction today, 1 that we should each study from,” said Sandu, a erstwhile World Bank official. “Moldovans overseas person shown erstwhile again that Moldova thumps arsenic powerfully successful their hearts arsenic it does successful ours backmost home.”

She besides went connected to opportunity that nan ballot had been overshadowed by an “unprecedented attack” done alleged schemes including soiled money, vote-buying, and electoral interference “by dispute forces from extracurricular nan country” and criminal groups.

The results of some nan October ballots and Sunday’s runoff were so dogged by allegations of a awesome vote-buying scheme, Russian interference, and elector intimidation — which exposed Moldova’s judiciary arsenic incapable to adequately protect nan democratic process.

In nan aftermath of nan 2 October votes, Moldovan rule enforcement said that a vote-buying strategy was orchestrated by Ilan Shor, an exiled oligarch who lives successful Russia and was convicted successful absentia past year of fraud and money laundering. Shor denies immoderate wrongdoing.

Prosecutors opportunity $39 cardinal was paid to much than 130,000 recipients done an internationally sanctioned Russian slope to voters betwixt September and October. Anti-corruption authorities person conducted hundreds of searches and seized complete $2.7 cardinal (2.5 cardinal euros) successful rate arsenic they effort to ace down.

The EU’s overseas argumentation chief, Josep Borrell, congratulated Sandu connected nan triumph “despite unprecedented interference by Russia, including pinch vote-buying schemes and disinformation,” which he said had “sought to undermine nan country’s antiauthoritarian institutions and its EU path.”

“I dream nan authorities will understand nan results, particularly nan 1 obtained connected Moldovan ungraded that was a antagonistic 1 for them, some successful nan referendum and nan statesmanlike election,” 20-year-old student Artur, who did not springiness his surname, said successful Chisinau connected Monday, referring to nan much than 50% support for Stoianoglo from voters wrong Moldova. “Maybe they’ll alteration things for nan wellbeing of Moldova.”

In nan aftermath of Russia’s penetration of Ukraine successful 2022, Moldova applied to subordinate nan EU. It was granted campaigner position successful June of that year, and successful summertime 2024, Brussels agreed to commencement rank negotiations. The crisp westward displacement irked Moscow and importantly soured relations pinch Chisinau.

The pro-Western authorities led by nan Party of Action and Solidarity has been successful powerfulness successful Moldova since 2021, and a parliamentary predetermination will beryllium held successful 2025. Moldova watchers pass that adjacent year’s ballot could beryllium Moscow’s main target.

Mihai Mogaldea, nan lawman head astatine nan Chisinau-based Institute for European Policies and Reforms deliberation tank, told nan AP connected Monday that nan EU should attraction connected extending much costs to Moldova to “produce an contiguous effect connected people’s lives.”

“We must understand that we only won a battle,” he said, “and nan warfare will proceed till aft nan parliamentary predetermination — and really that’s wherever each Russia’s bets are on.”

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McGrath reported from Bucharest, Romania. Associated Press newsman Vadim Ghirda successful Chisinau, Moldova, contributed to this report.