CHISINAU, November 12. /TASS/. Moldovan society has been dangerously split following the country’s presidential election, and this hardly benefits incumbent President Maia Sandu, former Moldovan President Igor Dodon stated.
"Moldovan citizens living in the country have treated the current government and Maia Sandu personally with open disdain," the head of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova said in an interview with Moldovan TV channel Cinema 1. He recalled that within Moldova, Sandu received fewer votes in the second round of the election than her opponent, former Prosecutor General Alexander Stoianoglo. However, neither the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) nor Sandu "have learned their lesson," Dodon added.
"If I were her, I would have met with my opponent the day after the election, invited representatives from both parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties, and discussed further actions together. The country is divided. Those who voted for Stoianoglo in red jackets were beaten in the streets; we heard xenophobic, Nazi messages, and witnessed massive assaults—all encouraged and inspired by Sandu's party," the former president said.
Dodon believes that the authorities have significantly divided the country during the recent elections. "We need to stop the rise of these sentiments, or else the situation will escalate. It’s shifting, especially after the US elections, and it’s becoming unfavorable for Maia Sandu and PAS."
Before the presidential election, the Moldovan authorities declared a state of emergency and banned Russian television broadcasts. As many as 14 TV channels that provided a platform for the opposition were accused of jeopardizing national security and shut down. Moldova's Constitutional Court banned the pro-Russian Shor party at the suggestion of the government.
Sandu established a national center for information defense—PATRIOT—to combat alleged Russian propaganda and "traitors of the Motherland." The Moldovan authorities also created a special center to monitor opposition leaders, public figures, and journalists critical of the government (similar to Ukraine's Myrotvorets, or Peacemaker, center).
According to the CEC, incumbent President Sandu won 55.33% of the vote in the second round, defeating opposition candidate Alexander Stoianoglo. In Moldova itself, however, Stoianoglo received 51%. His rival prevailed thanks to the votes of over 300,000 Moldovan migrant workers, for whom the authorities opened over 200 polling stations in EU countries. At the same time, Sandu accused the opposition of purchasing votes. By doing so, Dodon argues, Sandu is attempting to justify the election's outcome.