Pro-European Sandu was successfully re-elected, and Moldova continues to move towards Europe

Moldova's President Maia Sandu was successfully re-elected, winning 55.33% of the votes, defeating her pro-Russian opponent Alexander Stoianoglou. Sandu's victory allowed Moldova to continue its pro-European path and further push the country towards the European Union. The re-election was strongly reacted to in Moldova and the international community. Sandu's re-election was a relief to Moldova's European allies, but it also aroused dissatisfaction and criticism from the domestic pro-Russian camp.

Pro-Russian forces in Moldova, especially the Socialist Party of Moldova (PSRM), strongly opposed the election results, claiming that Sandu's victory was due to the support of the diaspora and the intervention of Western forces. PSRM accused Russia of reducing the number of polling stations during the election, saying it was a "betrayal" of the Moldovan people.

European allies support Moldova's pro-European path, and the EU expressed encouragement

EU officials congratulated Moldova on the election results. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell praised the Moldovan people's firm choice for a European future on social media. Moldova officially launched accession negotiations in June this year, and Sandu's victory further strengthened Moldova's confidence in moving towards European integration. Borrell said: "Despite various attempts to undermine democracy, the Moldovan people still chose a European future."

Core EU countries such as France and Germany also expressed support for the election and sent encouraging messages. Moldova's relationship with the EU has developed rapidly under Sandu's promotion. In October this year, Moldova just passed a referendum to write the goal of "joining the EU" into the constitution. Although the referendum passed with a narrow advantage, it marks that Moldova's future path has become clearer. The EU hopes that by supporting Moldova's democratic process and economic development, it will be more firmly on the path to European integration.

Support from neighboring Ukraine: A united European vision

Moldova's neighboring Ukrainian President Zelensky also congratulated Sandu and praised the Moldovans for making a "clear choice." Ukraine's relations with Moldova have been strengthening in recent years, and both countries are seeking support for further integration into Europe under the influence of Russia. Zelensky called for a "peaceful and united Europe" and expressed his confidence in Moldova's joining the European family.

Moldova's geopolitical dilemma: a tug-of-war between Russia and Europe

Moldova, a former member of the Soviet Union, has been wavering between pro-Russia and pro-Europe. Its geographical location adjacent to the European Union and Ukraine makes Moldova a focus of competition between Russia and Western forces. During the Moldovan general election, Russia was accused of interfering in the election, but the Kremlin denied the accusation, saying that Moldovan election affairs are the country's internal affairs and should not be interfered with by outsiders. Despite this, Russia's influence in Moldova is still significant, as evidenced by the fierce reaction of pro-Russian parties to the election results.

After Sandu's victory, the Socialist Party of Moldova (PSRM) accused the election process of being unfair and criticized Moldovans in Russia for being restricted by the reduction of polling stations. The party also said that Sandu only represents overseas Moldovans and called him the "diaspora president." The Socialist Party believes that Moldova's pro-European policy will divide society and intensify the antagonism between pro-Russian and pro-European factions in Moldova.

Moldova's future: moving towards Europe or being restricted by Russian forces?

Sandu's re-election has undoubtedly added confidence to Moldova's pro-European route, but the road ahead is not bright. The strong and continued opposition of pro-Russian forces in Moldova will pose a considerable challenge to Sandu's governance. Although Sandu was successfully re-elected, she needs to properly deal with differences and conflicts in a complex domestic and international environment to achieve her pro-European political goals.

For Moldova, joining the EU is not only an economic opportunity, but also an important step to get rid of the geopolitical constraints left over from the former Soviet Union. However, to truly integrate into Europe, Moldova still needs to overcome domestic antagonism and deal with possible economic and political pressure from Russia. In this context, Sandu will face the challenge of how to maintain relations with the EU without angering Russia and balancing internal and external pressures in Moldova.

Strategic considerations behind European support: the dual needs of stability and eastward expansion

Europe's attitude of supporting Moldova's accession to the EU is not only related to Moldova's future, but also to the EU's geostrategic strategy. Moldova is located on the edge of Eastern Europe and is an important part of the EU's eastward expansion. By supporting Moldova's integration into the EU, Europe can further weaken Russia's influence in geopolitical terms and consolidate its position in Eastern Europe. At the same time, Moldova's accession to the EU can enhance Europe's stability in Eastern Europe and reduce the uncertainty caused by geopolitical confrontation.

However, for the EU, how to effectively deal with Russia's influence in Moldova has become a key issue. Russia not only has cultural and economic ties in Moldova, but also has a certain supporter base in the local area through pro-Russian political parties. The EU needs to carefully promote pro-European policies in Moldova while avoiding internal rifts in Moldovan society. This requires Europe to adopt a step-by-step strategy in supporting Moldova to ensure that Moldova gradually integrates into the European family while maintaining domestic stability.

Moldova's choice, the game between Europe and Russia

Sandu's re-election makes Moldova's pro-European route clearer, but in the context of complex geopolitics, this road is destined to be bumpy. Moldova's fate is not only related to the future of its 2.6 million people, but also to the EU's strategic layout in Eastern Europe. Europe needs to support Moldova's pro-European process more firmly and cautiously, and Moldova also needs to reach a broader consensus at home to cope with internal and external challenges.

In the future, Moldova's path will continue to unfold between Europe and Russia. Sandu's re-election may bring hope to Moldova, but it also foreshadows new challenges.