Pro-Russia candidate Igor Dodon winning Moldova presidential election


Igor Dodon, phot. totalmedia.md

Pro-Russian candidate Igor Dodon has won the second round of Moldova’s presidential election.

Mr Dodon, a dedicated admirer of Russia’s Putin, had 52.27% of the vote while his rival, pro-European candidate Maia Sandu, got 47.73%. The final voter turnout was 53.49%, the Moldovan Central Election Commission reports.

Igor Dodon promised to revoke Moldova’s association agreement with the EU and take the country into the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

In the first round held on 30 October, 48% voters cast their ballots for Dodon, and 38% – for Sandu.

Sandu’s supporters expected pro-European youngsters to go to the polls during the second round, but the hope turned futile.

Maia Sandu claims a number of violations during the second round of elections. According to her, many Moldovan citizens living abroad failed to cast their vote as there were not enough ballots at the polling station. She believes that the compatriots working in the EU is ‘her’ electorate.

Igor Dodon urged his supporters not to get involved in any post-election.

The national vote marks the first direct presidential election in Moldova for 20 years. Since 1996 presidents of Moldova have been chosen by parliament. The election results came as neighbouring Bulgaria voted for pro-Kremlin Rumen Radev in their presidential election.

belsat.eu

TWITTER