Moldovan President Maia Sandu has been named “World Leader of the Year 2025” by the prestigious British newspaper The Telegraph, which praised her leadership in defending democracy and steering the Republic of Moldova through a year of intense geopolitical pressure.
In its annual recognition, The Telegraph highlighted Sandu’s decisive role in countering Russian political and hybrid interference, safeguarding democratic institutions, and keeping Moldova firmly on a pro-European path. The publication described Moldova as a frontline state in the broader struggle for European democracy and portrayed Sandu as a leader who withstood sustained external pressure without abandoning democratic principles.
The British newspaper emphasized that, despite Moldova’s small size and vulnerable position between Romania and war-torn Ukraine, Sandu successfully led the country through a challenging electoral year. According to The Telegraph, Moscow attempted to influence Moldova’s political processes, but Sandu and her team defeated these efforts through democratic means, securing electoral victories and preserving political stability.
The article also pointed to Sandu’s personal integrity and modest lifestyle, noting that she leads without extravagance and maintains public trust through transparency and restraint. The publication argued that these qualities strengthened her credibility at home and abroad at a time when democratic norms faced repeated challenges.
Under Sandu’s leadership, Moldova advanced its European Union integration agenda, opening accession negotiations and deepening cooperation with European partners, despite regional instability and external pressure aimed at derailing reforms.
By naming Maia Sandu World Leader of the Year, The Telegraph underscored her growing international stature and placed Moldova at the center of the European democratic narrative, recognizing the country’s efforts to uphold democratic values in a complex and increasingly polarized geopolitical environment.