After the counting of 99.07% of the ballots, the former pro-European Prime Minister Maia Sandu won the second round of the presidential election, Sunday, November 15, in Moldova.

It is well ahead of the outgoing pro-Russian. 

Maia Sandu, who promises a merciless fight against corruption, won 57% of the vote against 43% for Igor Dodon, the target of corruption charges during his four-year term.

The victory of Maia Sandu, 48, the first woman to take the presidency in this former Soviet republic balancing for years between European ambitions and rapprochement with Moscow, risks being frowned upon by Russia, which fears losing its influence in the region. 

While full results are expected by Monday morning, celebrations erupted outside the candidate's election headquarters in central Chisinau.

Scenes of jubilation in honor of the new president 

"Maia Sandu president" and "A country for young people" chanted several dozen of her supporters, applauding and offering her flowers, before dispersing in the middle of the night. 

Igor Dodon, 45, has not yet spoken on the outcome of the vote, but "called for calm".

His press conference was expected in the morning.

Maia Sandu's victory heralds "a clear decline in Russian influence," the executive director of the Institute for European Policy and Reforms in Chisinau, Iulian Groza, noted for AFP.

Maia Sandu, who has the reputation of being incorruptible, "will push reforms forward" and "will be able to defend national interests by dialoguing with Russia," added Iulian Groza. 

An economist by training, Maia Sandu had worked for the World Bank (WB) in Chisinau from 1998 to 2005, then in Washington from 2010 to 2012. Before her brief stint as Prime Minister, she had also headed the Ministry of Education. 

Russia, faced this year with protest movements in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, which it considers its area of ​​influence after having severed its ties with Ukraine since 2014, openly supported President Dodon. 

Moscow has also accused Washington of orchestrating "a revolutionary scenario for Moldova in November".

Bucharest, which has strong historical links with this Romanian-speaking country, has for its part supported Maia Sandu.

A European country struck by poverty 

Amputated of part of its territory, Transdniestria, controlled by pro-Russian separatists, Moldova, a country of 3.5 million inhabitants, is among the poorest in Europe.

Up to 40% of its population, it is estimated, has gone abroad to escape poverty.

>> See also: Transnistria, a puppet republic at the end of Europe

Wedged between pro-Western Ukraine and Romania, a member of the European Union, Moldova was rocked in 2015 by a huge corruption scandal, concerning the disappearance of a billion dollars (the equivalent of 15% of ) funds of three national banks.

"Today, you have the power to punish those who stole from you, who reduced you to misery and forced you to leave your house," said Maia Sandu, Sunday, after voting in Chisinau, in a clear allusion to his rival.

Maia Sandu had created the surprise by arriving at the head of the first round of the presidential election thanks to the unprecedented support of the diaspora.

Almost 258,000 Moldovans voted abroad, a record. 

With AFP

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