Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
International Business Times
International Business Times
World
AFP News

Moldova's Pro-EU President To Seek Second Term

Sandu, a 51-year-old former World Bank economist, is leading polls for the presidential vote to be held by late 2024 (Credit: AFP)

Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Sunday said she would seek a second term next year as she looks to steer the former Soviet republic to EU membership.

European Union leaders agreed earlier this month to open formal membership negotiations with Moldova and neighbouring Ukraine.

Sandu has said this opened a "new page" for the country of 2.6 million people that borders Ukraine and EU member Romania.

"We still have important steps to take and I promise to continue if you give me your confidence for a new term in 2024," she said in a post on Facebook.

She also asked parliament to "initiate the organisation of a referendum (on EU membership) next autumn, in which the voice of the citizens would be decisive".

Sandu, a 51-year-old former World Bank economist, is leading polls for the presidential vote to be held by late next year.

A poll earlier this month put her support at some 30 percent, ahead of Russia-friendly ex-president Igor Dodon at 24 percent.

Sandu defeated Dodon at the end of 2020 to become president.

Moldova's current pro-EU government has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and alleged that Moscow was behind a plot to try and overthrow it.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.