Moldova’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, is heading for a clear parliamentary victory in elections seen as pivotal for the country’s future with the European Union.
With most ballots counted, PAS secured about 50% of the vote, while the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc trailed at under 25%. The result gives PAS a projected 55 seats in the 101-seat parliament, enough to govern without coalition partners. Voter turnout was 52%, higher than in recent years.
President Sandu, 53, had warned of “massive Russian interference” before the vote. Police reported bomb scares at polling stations in Moldova and abroad, along with disinformation campaigns and attempts to buy votes. Several men were arrested on suspicion of receiving firearms training in Serbia to coordinate unrest. PAS leaders accused Moscow-backed groups of trying to destabilize the process.
Despite the count, opposition leader Igor Dodon, head of the Socialist Party and a key Moscow ally, prematurely claimed victory and urged supporters to protest outside parliament. His stance added to tensions, especially in Transnistria, the pro-Russian breakaway region where many residents hold Moldovan passports.
The election unfolded against the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has deepened Moldovans’ anxieties over Moscow’s influence. “We voted for a European future over a Russian past,” said Dan Spatar, a voter in Chisinau. Another voter, Marina, added: “For peace, for a better life, for our economy — Europe is the only path.”
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Moldova was granted EU candidate status in 2022, alongside Ukraine. Sandu has urged citizens not to “play with your vote,” warning that the nation’s democratic future hinges on its European alignment.
Despite opposition claims of fraud, election monitors said cameras in polling stations ensured transparency. While challenges remain, the result strengthens Moldova’s pro-EU course and highlights growing resistance to Russian pressure in Eastern Europe.
