(ANSA-AFP) - CHISINAU, NOV 3 - Moldovans went to the polls on
Sunday in a tense presidential election runoff that could play a
key role in the country's European future amid fears of Russian
interference. The vote in a country bordering war-torn Ukraine
comes two weeks after a razor-thin "yes" in a referendum on
joining the European Union.
Pro-EU incumbent Maia Sandu scored 42.5 percent of the vote
in the first round of the presidential election two weeks ago.
Alexandr Stoianoglo, supported by the pro-Russian Socialists and
who was fired as prosecutor general by Sandu last year, received
26 percent. But Stoianoglo has since gained the support of other
defeated candidates and analysts are predicting a close battle,
similar to Georgia's vote last weekend when the ruling party won
a contested parliamentary election. In both ex-Soviet republics,
Russia has been accused of seeking to sway voters. In each case
it has rejected the claims. (ANSA-AFP).
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