Maldovan President Maia Sandu has won a second term in office, the country's election commission said. With more than 98% of votes counted in the runoff election for the presidency on Sunday, Sandu secured about 54% of votes,

For Ms Sandu, who has led Moldova’s pro-Western government since 2021, the support from the electorate signals a continued mandate to pursue EU membership, a trajectory fiercely opposed by Russia. The stakes were high for Moldova’s diaspora, with more than 325,000 casting ballots, mostly in favour of Ms Sandu, marking a record turnout.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu casts her ballot at a polling station during the second round of the presidential election in Chisinau, Moldova November 3, 2024. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza/File Photo CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova handed Russia's ambassador to Chisinau a protest note on Tuesday over alleged interference by Moscow in a presidential election and a referendum on joining the European Union.

The Moldovan Foreign Ministry protested to the Russian ambassador against "Russia's illegal interference in the elections and referendum in Moldova to distort their results, undermine and delegitimize the democratic process in Moldova.

Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed a note of protest to Russia's newly appointed ambassador, Oleg Ozerov, in response to Russia's interference in the election and the crash of two Russian drones on Moldovan territory,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova has handed Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov a note of protest over Russian interference in the elections and two Russian drones whose wreckage was recently found in the country's regions.