(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).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
