The  Central Electoral Commission made public the final results after processing all the ballots. Thus, in the second round, Maia Sandu accumulated about over 943 thousand votes, the equivalent of 57.75%, while up to 690 thousand Moldovan citizens voted for Igor Dodon (42.25%). Respectively, 250 thousand people voted more for the PAS leader than for Igor Dodon.

Moldova’s Diaspora, citizens living abroad, cast their votes for Maia Sandu, reaching 92.94%, while Igor Dodon got 7.06% of the votes.

The Presidential election results came quickly to the international public. Today, leaders of neighboring countries of Moldova and heads of global institutions have welcomed and cheered for Moldova’s next President.

First, congratulating Maia Sandu for the victory obtained in the presidential elections was Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis. According to a communiqué of the Romanian Presidential Administration, the President of Romania will go to Chisinau after Maia Sandu takes over her mandate.

The President of Ukraine is the second head of state, Vladimir Zelenskiy sent her a message via his Twitter account.

“Congratulations to Maia Sandu on the occasion of the victory in the presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova. I hope that this will lead to the strengthening of relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova for the benefit of the European future of our nations,” leader Zelesnkiy wrote in English and Ukrainian on his Facebook page.

Belarusian political leader Svetlana Tihanovskaia sent a congratulatory message to Maia Sandu for winning the presidential election as well. It states that “Under her leadership, the Moldovan people will prosper, and relations between our nations will develop.”

“I express my sincere congratulations to @sandumaiamd on her victory in the presidential elections in #Moldova. I am deeply impressed by her bravery and dedication. I believe that under her leadership the Moldovan people will prosper and the relations between our nations will develop.”

President Vladimir Putin welcomed Moldova’s election results. A statement appeared on the website of the Russian presidency. The text mentions that Vladimir Putin sends Maia Sandu a congratulatory telegram on the victory in the presidential elections. “I count on the fact that your activity as head of the state will correspond to the constructive development relations between our countries. This, without a doubt, will be in the interest of the people of Russia and Moldova,” communicates the Kremlin press release.  It also mentions Vladimir Putin wishing the election winner success, good health, and well-being.

The announcement of the Russian presidency comes after Igor Dodon announced that his staff had found “unprecedented violations” and that he would challenge the election results in all judiciary courts.

And Russian opponent Alexei Navalny sent a congratulatory message to Maia Sandu for winning the presidential election. He noted that “Moldova has everything for successful development.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen followed with congratulations to Maia Sandu as well. The President of the European Commission told Maia Sandu on Twitter that “the European Union is ready to support Moldova.”