Moldova’s ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) scored a decisive victory over its Russian-leaning rival in a closely watched parliamentary election, results confirmed on Monday. The outcome is seen as a strong endorsement of President Maia Sandu’s pledge to steer the country toward European Union membership by 2030 and reduce its dependence on Moscow.
With nearly all ballots counted, PAS secured 50.1% of the vote, compared with 24.2% for the Patriotic Bloc, led by former president Igor Dodon. Pre-election polls had predicted a tight contest between the two camps, but the results give Sandu’s party a clear mandate, sparing Moldova the uncertainty of coalition bargaining and potential political instability.
Allegations of Russian Interference
The election was conducted against the backdrop of mounting accusations of Russian interference. Moldovan officials accused Moscow of attempting to disrupt the vote through disinformation campaigns, vote-buying, cyberattacks on government infrastructure, and fake bomb threats at polling stations in Moldova and abroad. Moscow has denied the allegations.
On polling day, Dodon claimed—without evidence—that Sandu intended to annul the results and called for protests outside parliament. Authorities, who had warned of Russian-backed attempts to incite unrest, are monitoring whether opposition groups mobilize large crowds in the days ahead.
Moldova Between East and West
A nation of 2.4 million, Moldova has long been caught between Russia and the West, its geopolitical position further complicated by the war in neighboring Ukraine, recurring energy shortages, and lingering economic pain. Inflation remains high at around 7%, and opposition parties sought to capitalize on voter frustration with slow reforms and rising living costs.
Despite these challenges, PAS’s victory indicates that the promise of closer integration with Europe continues to resonate with a broad segment of Moldovan society. For Sandu and her government, the result provides fresh momentum to advance reforms aligned with EU accession and to counterbalance Russian influence in the region.
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