How Moldova’s Most Popular T.V. Host Torched Her Career With a Startling Life Choice

Feted by many fellow journalists and Western diplomats as a fearless scourge of corrupt oligarchs, Moldova’s most popular television host torched her soaring career and stellar image three years ago with a startling life choice.

She fell in love and had a child with one of her country’s most notorious and, according to prosecutors, most corrupt oligarchs.

Ostracized by many of her onetime friends and admirers, Natalia Morari, 40, has now caused yet more dismay by refashioning herself into a politician. She no longer works for the independent, award-winning television station she founded in 2006, and is running for president in an election on Sunday against the incumbent, Maia Sandu, the standard-bearer of a pro-European cause for which the journalist was for years a prominent champion.

Ms. Sandu, a former World Bank official, came to power four years ago to applause from Ms. Morari — and also the United States and Europe — on promises to root out corruption and malign Russian influence in Moldova.

Ms. Morari had encouraged Ms. Sandu to run for the presidency, and saw her for a time as Moldova’s best hope for a European future. Today, though, on the campaign trail, she echoes pro-Russian politicians by denouncing the president as “the top of a criminal pyramid” who must be ousted to ensure a secure and prosperous future.

“Life is complicated,” Ms. Morari said in an interview at her campaign headquarters in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, surrounded by stacks of election leaflets. “I understand that it’s easier in a black-and-white world to talk about that corrupted guy and the discredited journalist.”