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Moldova's presidential election will go to a runoff after a pro-Russian candidate narrowly missed winning a majority of votes.

With almost all ballots counted early Monday, Igor Dodon won 48.26 percent, while pro-European rival Maia Sandu scored 38.42 percent.

There will now be a second round on Nov. 13 as no candidate secured a majority of the vote.

The election on Sunday was the first presidential election by direct vote in 20 years in this impoverished former Soviet republic.

Moldovans, angry about high-level corruption, were divided about whether to seek closer integration into Europe or rekindle ties with Moscow.</s>Moldova’s presidential election will be decided in a run-off between an admirer of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and a former World Bank economist who vows to crush corruption and accelerate the country’s integration with the West.

With almost all ballots counted, pro-Moscow candidate Igor Dodon had 48.3 per cent of votes cast in Sunday’s election, well clear of Maia Sandu’s 38.4 per cent but short of the majority he needed to seal victory in the first round.

None of the other seven candidates figured strongly in an election with a turnout of only 49 per cent, a factor that analysts say helped Mr Dodon and reflects widespread disillusionment in Moldova with the entire political class.

Wedged between Romania and Ukraine, 3.5-million-strong Moldova is considered to be Europe’s poorest country, and its economy was battered further by the still-unsolved disappearance in 2014 of $1 billion from its banking system.

The scandal outraged Moldovans who earn an average of about €220 per month, or emigrate in search of work in the EU and Russia, while a tiny elite of business people and politicians lives in conspicuous luxury.

Mr Dodon has pledged to repair relations with Russia that have suffered in recent years, under a series of Moldovan governments that have propounded “European values” while doing little or nothing to halt rampant graft and cronyism.

The failure of these “pro-EU” governments, including the current one, has turned many Moldovans against the idea of integration with the West, and boosted the popularity of Mr Dodon and others who say Moscow must be the nation’s main partner.

He urged other pro-Russian political leaders to “put aside personal ambitions” and back him in the second round on November 13th.

“I’m sure Maia Sandu will lose in the second round. You can prepare for it, but it won’t help you. If we get the support of a few partners on the political left, then we’ll win by 60 per cent to 40 per cent. If not, then we’ll win anyway with 52-53 per cent,” Moldovan news website Newsmaker quoted Mr Dodon as saying.

Ms Sandu, an economist and former education minister with a reputation for probity, has called for a massive turnout on November 13th of Moldovans who see their future in Europe.

“We should not be afraid, we must prove to the thieves and corrupt (officials) that there are more of us,” she said. “Together we must bring order to Moldova.”</s>According to the results announced after the tallying of 98.32 percent of the votes, pro-Russia candidate Igor Dodon has won 48.71 percent of the votes in the Moldovan presidential elections and will face Maia Sandu – a politician considered to be pro-European, who won 37.94 percent of the votes – in the runoff. The voter turnout stood at 48.9 percent according to preliminary data, Mediafax informs.

Several Romanian politicians have called on Moldovan voters to mobilise and vote in favour of pro-European candidate Maia Sandu in the Republic of Moldova’s presidential runoff.

President Iohannis: I hope second round of elections in Moldova observes European standards

The presidential elections of the Republic of Moldova represent a crucial moment for the state’s future, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday.

He shows that on Sunday he had constantly been informed by the Foreign Affairs Ministry about the ballot development, including through the Romanian Embassy in Chisinau.

“I am voicing my hope that the second round of elections of 13 November 2016 is carried out in good conditions, with the observance of the European standards on election conduct, in the spirit of fairness and transparency. In context, I underscore the importance of further ensuring the internal stability and the responsibility of the entire political class,” reads the president’s message sent after the first round of the presidential elections of the Republic of Moldova.

“The strategic partnership for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova between Romania and the Republic of Moldova must be developed and strengthened, same as the reform process in a European spirit, aimed at continuing the European integration to the concrete benefit of all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” Iohannis mentions.

National Liberal Party (PNL) President Alina Gorghiu on Monday said that the second round of the presidential election in Moldova is a chance for preserving Moldova’s pro-Europe orientation.

“I want to congratulate the Moldovans, who after 20 years showed up to elect their next president, and I am also glad that the election was held without incidents. It is good news that there will be a runoff, which is a chance for Moldova to preserve its strategic direction and pro-Europe orientation,” Gorghiu wrote in a Facebook posting.

Ex-President Traian Basescu has forecast that Maia Sandu will win the presidential runoff, welcoming the result registered on Sunday.

“The Republic of Moldova is PRO WEST, PRO ROMANIA. Igor Dodon hasn’t won the presidential elections in the first round, even though his Russophone electorate was totally mobilised to go out and vote. Maia Sandu has managed to enter the runoff with a good score of 38 percent, although a significant part of young voters did not vote but will surely do so in the runoff.”

“On Sunday, November 13, Maia Sandu will win the presidential elections with 53 percent of the votes and the Republic of Moldova will remain Pro-Europe and Pro-Romania, with voter turnout set to surpass 55 percent. Bravo Maia, bravo citizens of the Republic of Moldova!” Traian Basescu wrote on Facebook.

On the other hand, MP Theodor Paleologu thinks that Maia Sandu has a “small but real chance” to become President.

“Thank God Dodon did not win in the first round! Thank God there is still a small but real chance left for Maia Sandu to win the presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova! From now on I hope the people of Bessarabia will mobilise against the policy that Dodon represents,” the MP wrote on his page.

Ghinea: A sad result, because more was possible

Former European Funds Minister Cristian Ghinea, USR’s candidate in the parliamentary elections, stated however that Sunday’s result “is sad primarily because doing more, doing it better and at the necessary moment was possible,” referring to what Romania could have done for a truly democratic Moldova.

“What if Traian Basescu, after taking that excellent decision to donate 100 million Euros to Moldova, wouldn’t have taken the catastrophic decision to entrust Elena Udrea with the money. At [the helm of] a ministry that had zero experience and zero expertise as external donor. Back then, I amicably argued with the Swedish ambassador to Chisinau. The ambassador claimed that Sweden is Moldova’s biggest bilateral donor, I claimed that Romania is. She told me: let’s see the money and the projects implemented and then we’ll talk. I wrote two public reports while Basescu was President, in which I warned that the money is blocked or poorly spent. Back then his aide Iulian Chifu became angry with me. So did two MAE [Romanian Foreign Ministry] departments. In the end, though, I was right: although the assistance project should have been finalised in 2014, not even half of the sum has been spent by 2016,” the ex-minister wrote on Facebook.

He drew a parallel between Maia Sandu and Dacian Ciolos and emphasised that Traian Basescu and Victor Ponta should have implemented the “conditional aid” principle much earlier, the conditions being transparency, democratisation, anti-corruption.

“How would things have turned out had we realised earlier that we cannot leave in the hands of oligarchs the money meant for the elimination of the oligarchy? How would things have turned out had we had, six years ago, when Moldova was getting rid of Voronin, a Romanian Development Agency – RoAid – that would have better managed the money that Basescu promised?” Ghinea rhetorically asked.

Romania’s Ambassador in Chisinau: Regardless who will be president in Moldova, Romania wants fair relations

Regardless of who will be the democratically elected president of the Republic of Moldova, Romania will want to have ‘fair’ and ‘of principle’ relations, based on which we can consolidate cooperation, Romania’s Ambassador in Chisinau Daniel Ionita said in an interview to AGERPRES on Monday, one day after the first round of the presidential elections of the Republic of Moldova.

“As far as we are concerned, the result should be only one: regardless of who will be the democratically elected president of the Republic of Moldova, Romania will want to have fair and of principle relations, based on which all the forms of cooperation can be continued and consolidated,” the diplomat said.

Ionita said that the Republic of Moldova represents a “perennial strategic priority” of Romania and the only path it should follow is “the European path, the path generating not only the so much needed stability, but also the prosperity desired for all the citizens.”</s>CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova's presidential election will go to a runoff after a pro-Russian candidate narrowly missed winning a majority of votes.

With almost all ballots counted early Monday, Igor Dodon won 48.26 while pro-European rival Maia Sandu scored 38.42 , the top finishers among the nine candidates.

With no one securing a majority, a second round of voting will be held on Nov. 13 to decide between Dodon and Sandu.

The election on Sunday was the first presidential election by direct vote in 20 years in this impoverished former Soviet republic.

, angry about high-level corruption, were divided about whether to seek closer integration into Europe or rekindle ties with Moscow.

Dodon, who closer ties with Moscow, has pledged to "restore broad and friendly ties with Russia."

The former Communist Party member tapped into dissatisfaction with the pro-European government that came to power in 2009.

Sandu, an ex-World Bank economist and a pro-European figure, has vowed to be tough with endemic corruption. She earned praise for reforms she carried out when she was education minister.

Both the European Union together with the U.S. and Russia seek to have more influence over Moldova, a landlocked nation of 3.5 million between EU member Romania and Ukraine.</s>CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovans voted for a president Sunday in an election that could move the former Soviet republic closer to Europe or push it back into Russia’s orbit.

It is the first time in 20 years citizens have directly voted for their president in a country where many are angry about high-level corruption.

Both the European Union together with the U.S. and Russia seek to have more influence over the impoverished agricultural landlocked nation of 3.5 million, located between EU member Romania and Ukraine.

In the afternoon, election authorities declared the ballot valid after voter turnout reached 33.34 percent, exceeding the necessary minimum threshold of one-third of the eligible electorate. The first results are expected within hours after polls close at 1900 GMT (3 p.m. EDT).

The favorite of the nine candidates running for the post is Igor Dodon, a 41-year-old pro-Moscow avuncular figure who heads the Socialists’ Party and who has tapped into widespread dissatisfaction with the pro-European government, which has been in office since 2009.

Moldova was thrown into political turmoil in 2014 with the disappearance of more than $1 billion from the banking system. Weeks of street protests followed and six prime ministers took office in one year.

“This day is important for Moldova. It will be a new beginning. I voted against those who have been in power for seven years, against the oligarchs and the looting of the banking system,” Dodon said.

Andrei Boico, a 53-year-old worker, said he thought that if Dodon was elected, Moscow would lift a trade embargo on fruit, vegetables and wine that it placed on Moldova in 2014 in retaliation after it signed an association agreement with the EU.

“I think we need to revise our relations with Russia,” Boico said. “Without good relations…. we can’t have economic growth.”

Ex-World Bank economist Maia Sandu is the preferred option for those who want Moldova to join the European mainstream. If no candidate wins a majority, there will be a runoff on Nov. 13.

“I voted for an honest president who can unite us, not divide us and have good relations with all countries, large or small, based on mutual respect,” she said.

Valentina Cretu, a 41-year-old businesswoman, said she supported Sandu because she had pledged to fight corruption and move closer to the EU. “Without the EU, Moldova can’t get rid of poverty and corruption.”

The president appoints judges and sets out foreign policy but other major decisions need the approval of Parliament. The popular election, however, could bring the post more influence and authority.

Since then, Parliament has passed anti-corruption laws, forcing public officials to disclose their assets and making the misuse of EU funds a criminal offense.

Alison Mutler in Bucharest, Romania, contributed to this report.</s>The ex-Soviet republic of 3.5 million, squeezed between Ukraine and European Union member Romania, plunged into turmoil in 2015 after the disclosure that $1 billion had disappeared from the banking system. Street protests erupted and the International Monetary Fund and the European Union froze aid to Moldova.

Former prime minister Vlad Filat - one of five prime ministers in three years - was implicated, handcuffed live on TV in parliament and later jailed. But many Moldovans believe other members of the pro-EU elite were complicit in the scam.

"More than ever Moldova needs a president who represents all and doesn’t divide citizens of the country into supporters and opponents of integration in the European Union," said Alexandra Sveichina, a 64-year-old pensioner. "The new president should reject geopolitics completely and focus on improving the lives of simple people."

Exit polls will not be conducted, but the electoral commission will announce an early estimate of the result after midnight (2200 GMT) and preliminary results will be released on Monday.

Socialist Igor Dodon, who wants to reverse Moldova's course towards European integration, leads opinion polls but may have to contest a run-off on Nov 13.

His closest challenger is pro-European candidate Maia Sandu, a former World Bank economist and education minister, who has warned against allowing the country, which relies heavily on energy supplies from Russia, to fall back into Moscow's orbit.

If he wins, Dodon wants to call a referendum to extricate Moldova from a political and trade agreement signed with the EU in 2014 and join a Eurasian Customs Union dominated by Moscow, turning back the clock on years of closer ties with the West.

That would play into the hands of Russia in its tussle for influence over eastern European states, including Moldova, Georgia, Bulgaria and Ukraine.

The final days of the campaign have bordered on farce. Sandu and Dodon each accused the other of being in the pocket of Vlad Plahotniuc, the country's most powerful businessman, who critics say wields an outsize influence on Moldovan politics.

The ruling Democratic party's candidate, Marian Lupu, bowed out of the race on Wednesday, saying he wanted to improve the chances of keeping Moldova on a pro-European path. But Sandu said the move was a ploy to boost Dodon's chances.
Voters in Moldova go to the polls for a presidential election. A run off election will be held on November 13 between Igor Dodon and Maia Sandu after no candidate achieved a majority of votes.