Europe Run-off election in Moldova: President fears vote buying
In the run-off election for the presidency in Moldova, which is striving to join the EU, the head of state Maia Sandu has warned against vote-buying and fraud. "Thieves want to buy our votes and our country, but the power of the people is infinitely stronger than all their machinations," the 52-year-old pro-European politician told local media as she cast her vote in the capital Chisinau. Sandu, who is hoping for a second term in office, called on the country to unite. Voters should not allow their honest vote to be taken away from them, she said.
03.11.2024, 15:35
03.11.2024, 15:36
SDA
The people in the impoverished agricultural country, which is a candidate for EU accession, will decide between Sandu and former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo in the election. The 57-year-old is running for the Socialist Party of the pro-Moscow ex-president Igor Dodon. The outcome of the election is considered open. According to the electoral authority, voter turnout was around 43 percent in the afternoon, with more than 1.2 million people having already cast their vote.
Voting abroad too
Moldovans are also flocking to the polls abroad. In a video circulating on social networks, numerous people hold up their passports on an airplane. The Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that a plane carrying Moldovans from Moscow had landed in Belarus. According to the report, Moldovans are also flying to other countries to vote because only 10,000 ballot papers were allegedly issued in Moscow. The police in Moldova announced an investigation. It is a criminal offence to bring voters to polling stations at home and abroad in an organized manner, they said.
The polling stations are still open until 21:00 local time (20:00 CET). The first results are expected late in the evening.
