CHISINAU—Moldova is set to hold a runoff presidential election on November 3, as no candidate secured the required over 50 percent of the votes in the first round, according to early results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) on Monday morning.
Under the country’s constitution, a candidate must win an absolute majority—50 percent plus one vote—to be elected president. Failing that, the top two candidates proceed to a runoff.
The runoff will be contested between incumbent President Maia Sandu and former Prosecutor General Alexandru Stoianoglo. Preliminary results, with 90.3 percent of the votes counted, show Sandu leading with 37.7 percent of the votes, followed by Stoianoglo with 28.8 percent, leaving the other 11 candidates far behind.
The election saw a robust turnout, with 1,559,452 voters—representing 51.61 percent of registered voters—casting their ballots. This exceeds the minimum threshold of one-third of total registered voters required for the election to be valid.
Polling stations across Moldova were open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, as citizens lined up to choose their next leader. The high voter engagement reflects the country’s active participation in its democratic process.
The upcoming runoff is poised to be a pivotal moment for Moldova, offering a choice between continuity under President Sandu or new leadership with Stoianoglo. As the nation prepares for the decisive vote, both candidates are expected to intensify their campaigns to win over the electorate.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
