Presidential elections and the referendum in support of Moldova’s EU membership
First round results
On October 20, the Republic of Moldova held the first round of the presidential elections, alongside a referendum aimed at amending the Constitution, a move intending to underscore the country’s irreversible commitment to joining the European Union. Preliminary data provided by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) indicate a voter turnout of 51.68% for the presidential elections, surpassing participation rates from the first rounds of the 2016 (49.19%) and 2020 (48.54%) presidential elections. There was also a notable increase in turnout among Moldovan citizens abroad, with 240,548 voters casting their ballots, nearing the record set in the second round of the 2020 presidential elections, when 263,177 people voted.
After the polls closed in the Republic of Moldova, a euphoric atmosphere settled in Chisinau, fueled by the high voter turnout and its alignment with pre-election polls. These polls had outlined a favorable scenario in which Maia Sandu had a chance of winning, albeit narrowly, in the first round of the presidential elections. However, once the vote counting began, the results defied general expectations. According to preliminary data from the CEC, with 100% of the polling stations processed, Maia Sandu, the incumbent pro-Western president, secured 42.45% of the votes, followed by Alexandr Stoianoglo, the candidate supported by the Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), with 25.98%. In third place was Renato Usatii, leader of Our Party, with 13.79%, followed by Irina Vlah, the former Bascan (governor) of Gagauzia, with 5.38%, and Victoria Furtuna, who received 4.45%. All these candidates contested Maia Sandu’s policies and were either supported by pro-Russian parties or had a pro-Russia stance during the electoral campaign. Consequently, a second round of the presidential elections will take place on November 3, where Maia Sandu will face Alexandr Stoianoglo.
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