Maia Sandu Sworn in as President of Moldova for 2nd Term
Appointment
4 min read
Ms Maia Sandu was sworn in as the President of the European country of Moldova for her second term of four years on 24 December 2024.
Ms Maia Sandu first became the President of Moldova in 2020. She is the first woman to become the President of the country after it gained Independence in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
According to the constitution of Moldova, a person can be the President of the country for two terms of four years each.
During her rule, the country moved away from Russia and sought closer ties with the European Union. In 2022, Moldova applied for membership in the 27-nation European Union.
Presidential Election in Moldova Action and Solidarity party
The presidential election was held in Moldova on 20 October 2024. Along with the Presidential election, a referendum was also held in the country on whether to join the European Union.
50.35%, of the voters, favoured joining the European Union.
However, no candidate was able to secure a 50% vote in the Presidential election. Hence a run-off election was held in November 2024, contested by the top two candidates.
In the run-off election, 52-year-old former World Bank advisor Maia Sandu of the Action and Solidarity party was declared elected with 55.33% of the vote.
She defeated her rival Alexandr Stoianoglo who was supported by pro-Russian socialists.
Maia Sandu won the election due to the votes of the Moldovians living outside the country as within the country she secured fewer votes than her rival Alexandr Stoianoglo.
The Moldovan constitution allows Moldovians living outside the country to vote.
Russia Moldova relation
Moldova was part of the Soviet Union and gained Independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
There is a large Russian-speaking population in a country of 26 lakh people.
After the coming into power of Maia Sandu, the country started a pro-European policy and started moving away from Russia.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2021, Moldova applied for membership of the European Union which is being strongly opposed by the Russians.
In retaliation, Russia has announced that it will stop the supply of natural gas to the country from 1st January 2025. Around 75 of the country’s electricity generation is based on Russian-supplied natural gas.
President Sandu has already announced an emergency due to the expected cut-off of Russian gas to the country.
Russia maintains its troops in the Transnistria region of Moldova which has declared its independence from Moldova.
About Moldova
It is a landlocked country in Europe.
Capital: Chișinău
Currency: Moldovan leu
President : Maia Sandu
