Moldova is likely to stay on a path towards closer ties with the EU to safeguard its economic revival even if a pro-Russian candidate wins Sunday’s presidential run-off, according to the powerful tycoon Vlad Plahotniuc, who is deputy head of the ruling party, IPN reports, quoting Reuters.

“The European brand is recovering,” Vlad Plahotniuc told Reuters in a rare interview with foreign media, saying this would act as a bulwark against any attempt by Dodon to pull Moldova back into Moscow’s orbit by tearing up a political and trade deal that Chisinau signed with the EU in 2014.

“Irrespective of the result of the elections, we’re confident that we will be able to maintain both the stability and geopolitical path of the country, namely EU integration.”

Plahotniuc said he plans to step away from politics and return to the business world once the economy strengthens, seeing himself in political life as a "crisis manager" helping keep Moldova on a pro-European path.

Reuters says Moldova plunged into turmoil following a $1 billion corruption scandal that erupted in late 2014. But the economy has also returned to growth after a 0.5 percent decline in 2015, inflation has eased, unrest has died down and the IMF, which had halted aid over the scandal, agreed to a new $179 million package for Moldova on Monday.