Moldova faces ‘east-west’ presidential run-off

Chisinau / AFP

Moldova’s presidential election is set to go to a second round, preliminary results showed on Monday, after the leading pro-Russian candidate failed to secure an outright win in the ex-Soviet state.
Moldova went to the polls Sunday in its first popular presidential election since the 1990s, seen as a tug-of-war between supporters of closer relations with Russia and those seeking EU integration.
With nearly 100 percent of the ballots counted on Monday, pro-Moscow candidate Igor Dodon was well ahead on 48.23 percent, but fell short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a run-off.
His main rival, the pro-European Maya Sandu, was on 38.42 percent. The other seven candidates trailed far behind, each garnering no more than six percent of the vote that saw just over 49 percent of voters cast their ballots.
The second round between Dodon and Sandu is expected to take place on November 13. The official first-round results are not expected until Wednesday.
“The main conclusion is that voters no longer believe in this government,” Dodon told a press conference after polls closed.
“Our victory is inevitable,” said the 41-year-old, who has vowed to restore cooperation with Moscow.