Moldova presidential election goes to second round

Moldova’s first direct presidential elections in 20 years saw Maia Sandu, the pro-European anti-corruption candidate win nearly 40 percent of the vote with Igor Dodon, leader of the Socialist party and pro-Moscow candidate, taking nearly 50 percent.

A man reads morning papers in Chisinau on October 31, after the first round of Moldova presidential election. Reuters/Gleb Garanich

The 13 November runoff poll will pit two types of voters against one another: those looking for a clampdown on corruption and EU integration against those seeking closer ties with Russia.

With the Moldovan presidency largely seen as symbolic and the country’s influential oligarch keeping observers guessing, the vote could be seen as an indication of whether the country’s future lies East or West.

Filip Warwick reports from Chisinau, Moldova.