Beyond East and West: A New Direction for Moldova?

Sebastian Schäffer / Federica Mangiameli

On Sunday, the 15 November 2020, Maia Sandu was elected as the new president of the Republic of Moldova. The 48-year-old politician obtained almost 58% of the total votes in the run-off with the former president Igor Dodon and, even without the support from the diaspora, she will start her mandate on 24 December 2020. It was an overwhelming victory and a strong signal towards checks and balances and against corruption and nepotism. This result might represent a clear turning point for Moldova which has a concrete possibility to move ahead and build a more stable and prosperous future. Furthermore, it confirms the desire of Moldovan people to strengthen their relations to the European Union and it might even have a positive impact for the dynamics of the region.