Moldova and Georgia: Two countries facing key votes on future role in Europe

Moldova’s incumbent president is Maia Sandu – the 52-year-old founder of the liberal Party of Action and Solidarity, who came to power in 2020 and is a committed pro-European.

She will face off against Alexander Stoianoglo, the former prosecutor general of Moldova who took many by surprise when he announced running for president in July.

He is supported by the pro-Russian Party of Socialists, whose leader is ex-president and popular opposition figure Igor Dodon.

Turnout on Sunday is predicted to be high – above 80%.

Recent polls suggest Sandu could win over 35% of the vote on Sunday, with Stoianoglo coming a distant second with 9%.

There are several other candidates, the majority of whom are pro-Russian. However, almost 30% of voters were still undecided, according to the polls.

If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, the presidential election will go to a run-off vote on 3 November.

Although Sandu should comfortably win both rounds, parliamentary elections next July look less positive for her party, which may have to work with less staunchly pro-EU forces if it wants to govern.

One figure who looms large over the election, although he is not a candidate, is Ilan Shor, a businessman and politician. His Shor Party was banned in Moldova last year following allegations of working with Russia to undermine Moldova’s security and constitutional order. Shor fled to Israel in 2019 after being convicted of fraud and money-laundering, and has recently been living in Russia.

He makes no secret of where his allegiances lie. In September, he offered money to convince “as many people as possible” to vote No or to abstain in the EU referendum.