Moldova vote seen as test on pro-European road

(ANSA-AFP) - CHISINAU, OCT 17 - Moldova faces a decisive choice in Sunday's presidential elections and referendum on joining the European Union, held under the shadow of war in neighbouring Ukraine. Pro-European incumbent President Maia Sandu is the clear favourite against 10 other candidates in the former Soviet republic of 2. 6 million. Sandu and other high-ranking officials have accused Russia of trying to influence the presidential vote and the referendum organised the same day.
    Sandu, 52, a former World Bank economist who beat a Moscow-backed incumbent in 2020 by a wider-than-expected margin, is credited with 36 percent of voting intentions, according to a recent poll by the WatchDog think tank. Her main challenger, Alexandr Stoianoglo, a 57-year-old former prosecutor supported by the pro-Russian Socialists, is far behind at 10 percent. But Sandu is unlikely to get 50 percent of the vote on Sunday, leading to a second round on November 3, which "should be tighter", said WatchDog analyst Valeriu Pasha.
    The referendum asks if the constitution should be modified to include joining the EU as an objective. Nearly 54 percent said in WatchDog's poll that they were in favour, while 35 percent were against. (ANSA-AFP).