Date first published: 22/10/2024
Key sectors: all
Key risks: political stability; civil unrest
Risk outlook
On 20 October Moldovans voted to elect a new president and decide whether the country should enshrine in its constitution the goal of joining the European Union (EU). While President Maia Sandu won the presidential election with approximately 42 per cent of the vote, her main opponent, Alexander Stoinaglo, secured considerably higher support than anticipated, receiving 26 per cent. Stoinaglo’s relatively strong performance will make the second round – scheduled for 3 November – considerably more competitive, particularly if the third-strongest candidate, Renato Usatii, supports him.
Stoinaglo’s 26 per cent was not the only disappointment of the day for Sandu. While most Moldovans voted ‘yes’ in the referendum on EU aspirations, it was a razor-thin majority of 50.4 per cent, highlighting that the country is effectively split in half when it comes to EU integration.
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