Moldova’s pro-EU leader says country on ‘right side of history’

CHISINAU: Moldovan President Maia Sandu was sworn in for a second term Tuesday, praising voters´ pro-Europe choice “despite the pressures” after Russia was accused of interfering in last month´s election in the former Soviet republic that borders Ukraine.

“We can be proud that, despite the challenges, we have managed to be on the right side of history,” she said while taking the oath before parliament and the Constitutional Court. “We have defended democracy in the face of external threats,” she added. “Moldova voted, despite all the pressures, for a clear direction — a developed, European country bringing greater security and prosperity,” the 52-year-old leader said. The former World Bank economist took 55.33 percent of the vote in the run-off in early November, defeating Alexandr Stoianoglo, who was supported by pro-Russian socialists. Sandu, the country´s first woman head of state, owed her

re-election in large part due to a strong turnout from Moldova’s large

diaspora.