Moldova’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, is set to form a majority government after securing 50% of the vote in a parliamentary election closely tied to the country’s future relationship with the European Union.
With most of the 1.6 million votes counted, PAS has pulled far ahead of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc, which took less than 25%.
The vote was marked by heightened security risks, accusations of Russian interference, and calls for protests by opposition groups, underscoring the fragile balance Moldova faces between European integration and Russian influence.
Results confirm majority for PAS
According to early results, PAS is projected to clinch 55 of the 101 parliamentary seats, enough to govern without forming alliances.
Four years earlier, the party won 52.8% of the vote, and this time it strengthened its position further.
Turnout reached 52%, higher than in recent elections. The pro-Russian bloc led by Igor Dodon remained far behind, even as Dodon claimed victory before any results were officially announced.
Dodon called for protests outside parliament in the capital, Chisinau, urging opposition supporters to demonstrate at midday on Monday.
He alleged that the PAS government should leave power immediately, even though no exit polls had backed his claims.
Security incidents and bomb scares
The tense atmosphere of the election was underscored by multiple bomb scares across polling stations, not only in Moldova but also in Italy, Romania, Spain, and the US, where Moldovans abroad were voting.
According to a BBC report, three people were arrested in Moldova for allegedly plotting unrest the day after the polls closed.
Police also reported arrests linked to alleged Russian-backed disinformation and attempts to destabilise the country.
Some individuals were accused of undergoing firearms training in Serbia to coordinate unrest.
An investigation revealed evidence of payments being offered for spreading pro-Russian propaganda and fake news.
Inside polling stations, cameras were installed overlooking ballot boxes to ensure transparency.
Election monitors confirmed that footage would be reviewed if any violations were reported.
Transnistria turnout and challenges
Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria, where Russian troops remain stationed, also played a role in the election.
Residents of the enclave hold Moldovan passports, but turnout was significantly lower than in past years, with just over 12,000 people casting ballots.
Many had to travel more than 20km to reach polling stations across the administrative border.
Queues of cars were seen stretching into the distance, as Moldovan police checked documents and vehicles before entry.
Some voters from the region complained about delays caused by bomb scares, which forced them to change polling stations.
Others accused the authorities of deliberately making it harder for them to vote.
EU future at stake
Sandu, who won re-election last November, had warned of “massive Russian interference” before polls opened, describing the vote as critical for Moldova’s democracy and its future in the EU.
Moldova was granted EU candidate status in 2022 shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
While PAS supporters see the result as confirmation of a pro-European path, opposition voices in Transnistria and the Patriotic Electoral Bloc maintain that the government has failed to deliver on promises.
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