EU Warmly Congratulates Sandu on Winning Moldova's Presidential Election

EU High Representative Josep Borrell and the European Commission have congratulated Maia Sandu on her victory in the second round of the presidential election held in Moldova on Sunday. This is stated in a joint statement by the EU High Representative and the European Commission.

‘The EU warmly congratulates Maia Sandu on her re-election to a second term as President of the Republic of Moldova. We acknowledge (the) efforts of the Moldovan authorities to successfully conduct the elections despite unprecedented interference from Russia, including the use of vote-buying and disinformation schemes. These hybrid attempts were aimed at undermining the country's democratic institutions and its European path,’ the statement said.

As noted in the document, the European Union supports the security and stability of Moldova, including through the European Peace Facility and the EU Partnership Mission. Moldova, the statement recalls, was the first country with which the EU signed a security and defence partnership agreement.

‘The recent referendum reaffirmed the commitment of the people of Moldova to the European path and to further strengthen our close ties. The EU will continue to work with the President and the authorities of Moldova to advance further reforms and to strengthen the country's stability and prosperity on its path to the EU, including through the recently announced Growth Plan for Moldova,’ the document says.

Maia Sandu also received congratulations from French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor and Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz and Annalena Baerbock, as well as from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Even China said it ‘respects the choice of the Moldovan people’.

‘I would like to congratulate Maia Sandu on her re-election as President of Moldova. Democracy has triumphed over all interference and manoeuvres,’ Macron wrote on the X network.

‘Congratulations to Maia Sandu on winning the presidential election in Moldova. Ukraine supports the European choice of the Moldovan people and is ready to work together to strengthen our partnership,’ Zelenskyy wrote on X.

‘Moldova is a friendly country and partner of China. We have always respected the choice of the Moldovan people,’ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a briefing.

On Sunday, 3 November, Moldova held a second round of presidential elections. With almost 100% of the votes counted, Sandu received more than 55.32% of the population's support, outpacing his rival, Alexandru Stoianoglo, who promised to maintain close ties with the Kremlin. He had previously gained 44.68%.