Elections
Resisting Russia, Moldova’s President Fights to Keep Power
Maia Sandu faces a tighter-than-expected runoff vote that’s turned into a tug of war over the country’s future with her pro-Moscow opponent.
Moldova President Maia Sandu arrives for a news conference at her campaign headquarters in Chisinau on Oct. 21.
Photographer: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images
The several hundred people gathered inside a hall in the Moldovan village of Pirlita wore winter clothes to keep out the chill. Heating is a luxury the local mayor can’t afford, even when the president visits.
The scene was a sharp reminder of the economic backdrop for Maia Sandu, the country’s leader the past four years, as she seeks re-election in a runoff vote on Sunday that has geopolitical implications beyond the tiny nation.