Macron's plea to Moldovan voters draws criticism of foreign interference

Florian Philippot, leader of the French party “Patriots,” has voiced concern on social media platform X regarding French President Emmanuel Macron's recent address to the Moldovan citizens just before the second round of the presidential elections.

Philippot suggests that Macron’s intervention indicates an attempt by Europe to influence the political situation in Moldova, Caliber.Az reports citing his message.

In his address, Macron stated, “This second round is a decisive moment not only for Moldova but also for our Europe,” wishing the people of Moldova “courage and hope.” He explicitly urged Moldovans to vote for pro-European candidate Maia Sandu, prompting Philippot to characterize the intervention as akin to Russian interference.

Philippot remarked, “Macron publicly and officially urged Moldovans to vote... but the intervention is still Russian,” emphasizing that European leaders often unjustly accuse Russia while engaging in their own forms of electoral interference through corruption and deception.

Macron’s message, delivered in Romanian, underscored the significance of the election for Moldova and Europe. He tweeted, “The European path is the path of freedom and democracy, the foundation of a common future. Together we are stronger.”

In the first round of voting, incumbent president Maia Sandu received 42.37% of the votes, while Alexander Stoianoglo from the Party of Socialists of Moldova garnered 26.02%.

The second round of the presidential election in Moldova will take place on November 3.

Earlier, on November 1, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing that Russia did not interfere in the Moldovan election and strongly rejected any accusations of such a thing. In this way, he commented to journalists on the Moldovan police claims that Moscow allegedly recruited the persons who tried to set fire to the building of the Central Election Commission of the republic.

The day before, on October 31, the Constitutional Court of Moldova recognized the official results of the referendum, according to which citizens supported the change of the constitution to join the European Union. During the session, the opposition held a protest action.

By Tamilla Hasanova