Pro-EU Leader Re-Elected As Moldovan President

Moldova's pro-EU President Maia Sandu has claimed a second term after a tense election run-off seen as a choice between Europe and Russia, Paul Kirby reported for BBC News.

Sandu won 55% of the vote. I Photo: Maia Sandu Facebook

The Moldovan Central Electoral Commission confirmed Sandu's victory. Sandu won 55% of the vote, according to preliminary results, and in a late-night speech, she promised to be president for all Moldovans.

Her rival, Alexandr Stoianoglo, who was backed by the pro-Russian Party of Socialists, had called for a closer relationship with Moscow.

During the day, the president's national security adviser said there had been "massive interference" from Russia in Moldova's electoral process that had a "high potential to distort the outcome."

Russia denied meddling in the vote, which came a week after another key Eastern European election in Georgia, where the president said it had been a "Russian special operation." Stoianoglo, who was fired as prosecutor general by Sandu, has denied being pro-Kremlin.