There were deep sighs of relief in the capitals of western Europe as well as among liberal-minded reformers in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, when Maia Sandu, the country’s incumbent president, was re-elected on November 3rd. Ms Sandu looks set for another four years in office after a nerve-jangling run-off against an opponent strongly backed by Russia. She had comfortably won the first round on October 20th with 42% of the vote against ten other candidates, but most of the also-rans were pro-Russian. The runner-up, Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former chief prosecutor, who got 26% in the first round, was expected to close the gap. Early returns showed him a whisker ahead. But Ms Sandu eventually clinched victory with 55% of the vote to his 45%. The late count for Moldova’s large diaspora, especially in western Europe, is thought to have tipped the result in her favour.