Moldovan Constitutional Court endorses outcome of presidential elections

CHISINAU. Nov 28 (Interfax) - The Moldovan Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday to endorse the outcome of the presidential elections, the second round of which took place on November 3.

The court found the elections to be free and democratic and verified the presidential mandate won by Maia Sandu.

Eleven candidates ran for president in the first round of the election held on October 20. Incumbent President Maia Sandu of the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former Moldovan prosecutor general nominated by the Party of Socialists (PSRM), proceeded to the second round of the vote.

In the second round, Sandu garnered 930,139 votes, or 55.35%, and Stoianoglo 750,430 votes, or 44.65% of the vote. A total of 1,701,284 ballots were cast, meaning that voter turnout was more than 52%.

During the Constitutional Court hearing, a number of PSRM supporters gathered near the courthouse to demand that the voting results be annulled. Meanwhile, unlike the PSRM, Stoianoglo conceded defeat immediately after the voting and asked his supporters to remain calm.

Maia Sandu's current four-year presidential term expires on December 24, 2024. The Constitutional Court is expected to hold a ceremonial meeting on that date to be attended by parliament and government members, where Sandu's inauguration ceremony for a new term is to take place.