30 years after declaring its independence from Moscow, the Republic of Moldova has elected a woman as its president. An economist, with an MA in public administration at the prestigious Harvard University, a former advisor to the World Bank\u2019s executive chief, a former minister and, for a short time, a prime minister of Moldova, the pro-Western Maia Sandu has become, at the age of 48, the new president of Moldova, replacing in this position the pro-Russian socialist Igor Dodon. Sandu won the presidential runoff on Sunday with 57% of the votes, while Donon only got 43%. The two were also the main contenders in the presidential elections of 2016, won back then by Igor Dodon. This time, the electorate favored Maia Sandu.<\/p>\n
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The candidates supporting Moldova\u2019s reunification with Romania or closer ties with the EU, who did not make it to the second round, supported Maia Sandu\u2019s candidacy unconditionally. A big surprise came from Balti, Moldova\u2019s second largest city, whose mayor, the pro-Russian populist Renato Usatii, who came out third in the first round, called on his voters, accounting for around 17% of the electorate, to also support Maia Sandu. He argues that the power has been pressuring him to support Dodon and that he hopes Maia Sandu will do away with widespread corruption masterminded by Dodon.<\/p>\n
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Just like in the first round, Maia Sandu was heavily voted by the Diaspora, who, in spite of restrictions in place over the pandemic, went to the polls in record numbers — over a quarter of a million. \u201dPeople went to the polls because they care, people want their voice heard, they want to be respected, they want the power to offer solutions to their problems,\u201d said the new president-elect.<\/p>\n
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Pundits believe that carrying out her presidential mandate will be much more difficult for Sandu than winning the elections. Maia Sandu becomes the president of a country which, according to all reports, is the poorest in Europe. She takes over an administration crippled by corruption, controlled by political supporters of the former president. Moreover, she will have to co-habit with a pro-Russian socialist government and collaborate with a Parliament dominated by the left wing. The most important allies of the new president will be the citizens of the country, the European Union and Romania. In Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis congratulated Maia Sandu on her victory while PM Ludovic Orban promised that the Romanian Government would support the initiative of the new Moldovan president both in Bucharest and in Brussels. (Translated by Elena Enache)<\/em><\/p>\n
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