Moldova elections: Sandu leads, parity on EU accession, second round to be held soon

NewsMaker reported the information.

Results of the first round of the presidential election

As of 2:11 p.m., the official results from 2,206 polling stations (over 99% of protocols) showed the following:

• Maia Sandu (National Liberal Party Action and Justice) - 42.31%

• Alexandr Stoianoglo (Pro-Russian Socialist Party) - 26.07%

• Renato Usatîi - 13.80%

A total of 2,219 polling stations were open in Moldova and abroad, including in Moscow.

Referendum results

As of 6:19 a.m., the results of Moldova's referendum on joining the EU and enshrining the European path in the constitution are evenly split:

• Yes, I support – 50%

• No, I do not support – 50%

Sandu claims unprecedented fraud 

The current president believes that there was no fair political process in the elections and referendum in Moldova.

Sandu claims that the authorities have evidence of large-scale vote buying.

“We have evidence and information that a criminal group was going to buy 300,000 votes. This is an unprecedented fraud that aims to compromise democracy,” she said, calling it ”a fraud of unprecedented scale.”

In her speech, Maia Sandu emphasized that “today, as in recent months, freedom and democracy in Moldova are under unprecedented attack. Criminal groups, united with foreign forces, attacked our country with lies and propaganda.”

Moldovan presidential election and referendum on EU accession recognized as valid

As of 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2024, 42.44% of eligible voters in Moldova had participated in the referendum on European integration, making it valid, according to Chisinau-based TV8. 

The Central Election Commission (CEC) reported that 1.22 million citizens had already cast their votes.

Preliminary results on how many people supported the referendum and how many opposed it will be announced after the polls close, the outlet adds.

Read also: Russia's current influence operation in Moldova: main narratives against referendum

As previously reported by the news portal Știri.md, citing the country's CEC, as of 2:00 p.m., slightly over 33% of voters registered in the electoral lists had exercised their right to vote in the presidential elections in Moldova. Thus, the October 20 presidential election was recognized as valid.

Less than seven hours before the closing of polling stations, over 930,000 citizens out of approximately 2.7 million voters exercised their right to vote.
 

Read also: Russia hopes electoral spam will see Sandu defeated in Moldovan elections - journalist Prisyazhnyuk

In total, voters are expected at 2,219 polling stations, of which 1988 are open on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, including 30 polling stations for residents of the left bank of the Dniester.

Note. According to the current legislation of Moldova, elections and referendums in the country are considered valid if the turnout exceeds the minimum threshold of 33.33% of registered voters.
 

• On October 20, Moldova is holding the first round of presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on European integration. There are 11 candidates running for the presidency.

• There will be no exit polls during the first round of the presidential election in Moldova, the Central Election Commission reported.