EU leaders, on Monday 16 November, congratulated Maia Sandu on her victory in Moldova’s presidential election. The former pro-European prime minister of the country was elected with 57.75% of the votes, defeating the pro-Russian incumbent Igor Dodon.
Whether it was the Presidents of the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, all leaders saw this victory as a call to fight corruption and restore the Rule of law.
“The people of Moldova have clearly chosen a path that gives priority to justice, a genuine fight against corruption and a fairer society”, stressed the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who, like the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, made it clear that the EU was ready to support the country. European Parliament President David Sassoli said the EU was ready to intensify a close partnership and High Representative Josep Borrell said he looked forward to working with Ms Sandu “for the benefit of the Moldovans”.
Speaking to the press, the spokesman for the European External Action Service, Peter Stano, explained that EU support was linked to concrete progress towards reform and against the consequences of the Covid-19.
In a joint statement, the Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister (EPP, Germany) and the Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, Siegfried Mureșan (EPP, Romania), described Ms Sandu’s victory as “a new start for EU-Moldova relations”.
Like Mr Stano, both MEPs welcomed the high turnout of 52.78%. “This is a great example of civic responsibility and duty”, they said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)