Maia Sandu, the pro-western incumbent president of Moldova, has won a second term in office, preliminary election results show, marking a significant boost for the country’s EU aspirations and a clear rebuke to Moscow. The runoff election was seen as a crucial indicator of whether the country’s long-term geopolitical alignment woud be with Russia or Europe. Sandu, who has intensified her country’s efforts to break away from Moscow’s influence, was facing the Kremlin-friendly political newcomer Alexandr Stoianoglo, from the Socialist party, in the second round of voting on Sunday. With 98% of the ballots counted, Sandu led with 54.35%, the Central Election Commission said. With only parts of the country’s diaspora vote still outstanding, analysts said Sandu was all but guaranteed to win re-election