Outgoing pro-Russian head of state Igor Dodon came out on top in Moldova's presidential election on Sunday and will face pro-European candidate Maia Sandu in the second round, according to partial results released by the Electoral Commission.
Igor Dodon obtained 35% of the vote after the counting of 81% of the ballot boxes, ahead of Maia Sandu, with 31% of the votes, in this election which took place under the eye of Moscow and whose second round will take place on November 15.
Read also: Moldova, in crisis, offers itself a power with two heads
"You have shown patriotism and shown that the future of Moldova is important to you
,
"
Igor Dodon, 45, told voters immediately after the close of the election, which he deemed
"correct. , free and democratic ”
.
This former Minister of the Economy in a communist government had promised during the campaign
"the pursuit of beneficial cooperation with Russia"
and the compulsory learning of Russian at school in this predominantly Romanian-speaking country, a program which he won the praise of his counterpart Vladimir Putin.
His rival Maia Sandu, 48, whom he defeated in the previous election in 2016, pledged to work for Moldova's integration into the European Union and to bring back to the country the million working Moldovans. abroad.
Refusing to comment on these first results, she welcomed the strong mobilization of the diaspora, traditionally favorable to center-right candidates.
Read also: Moldova elects its president under the watchful eye of Moscow
A total of 42.7% of those registered cast their vote in the polling stations open in Moldova and abroad, against almost 51% in the first round of 2016. Former Soviet republic of 3.5 million inhabitants nestled between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova has been hit in recent years by repeated political crises and by gigantic bank fraud involving a billion dollars, or 15% of its gross domestic product.
The forces favorable to a rapprochement with Russia and the supporters of European integration have succeeded one another in power, without enjoying a clear majority.
On Sunday, voters did not hide their disappointment at the lack of progress in this country among the poorest in Europe.
“For thirty years, we have been waiting for a change.
How do you expect people who work overseas to come back as long as there is so much corruption here? ”
, wondered Vasile Mardare, a 64-year-old sports teacher.
"I voted for a candidate who will bring Moldova closer to the standard of living of the West," he
told AFP.
"We want a better future for our children and wait for politicians to keep their promises, but not too much hope,"
said Chisinau resident, Ludmila, 37.
Read also: Moscow accuses Washington of fomenting a "revolution" in Moldova
Moldova is known for its wine industry and a frozen conflict with pro-Russian separatists in Transnistria, who seceded in 1992 after a lightning war.
Moscow has maintained troops there.
Previous polls having been marred by fraud, many voters said they feared a "scenario" as in Belarus, where the contested re-election in August of President Alexander Lukashenko, supported by Moscow, has sparked a historic protest movement.
"We would not like things to go like in Belarus, but if it continues like this, I think we will have no other solution,"
Maria Turcanu, 55, doctor in Chisinau, told AFP. .
A total of 2,200 observers were deployed during this election, including 34 by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which will deliver the conclusions of its mission on Monday.