Moldova’s pro-European party clinched a victory in a tightly contested election, marred by Russian interference. Preliminary results show the party successfully retained its parliamentary majority following what many observers consider the most critical campaign in the nation’s recent history.
This win, which awaits official confirmation from the national election commission, is poised to bolster Moldova’s efforts to join the European Union. Had parties aligned with Russia achieved substantial gains, this ambition would have faced serious setbacks.
Despite being a small nation of just 2.4 million people, Moldova’s election garnered considerable global attention. Situated strategically between Romania and Ukraine, its political trajectory holds significant weight as the war in Ukraine continues. The vote essentially served as a referendum, compelling Moldovans to choose between a future aligned with Europe or one leaning towards Russia.
The projected victory for President Maia Sandu’s pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity indicates that pressing domestic concerns, such as high gas prices and widespread poverty, did not deter the nation’s European aspirations.
The map shows the tiny nation of Moldova, situated between Romania and Ukraine, and Russia to the northeast.
By Monday morning, nearly all votes in Moldova were tallied, with President Sandu’s party securing just over 50 percent. This provided a clear advantage over the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc, which garnered 24 percent of the vote.
Given Moldova’s electoral system, this outcome is expected to grant the pro-European party more than half of the 101 parliamentary seats.
This election arrived during a pivotal period for Moldova’s geopolitical alignment. As a former Soviet republic, Moldova shares deep historical connections with Russia, yet it has progressively strengthened its ties with the European Union in recent years.
In 2020, Ms. Sandu was elected president.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Moldovans saw closer integration with Europe as a safeguard against potential future Russian dominance. The country subsequently applied for EU membership, and a referendum last October solidified constitutional support for joining the bloc.
However, this measure passed by a very slim margin—50.4 percent to 49.5 percent—highlighting the vulnerability of Ms. Sandu’s party in the current election.
An image shows soldiers waiting to cast their vote in Chisinau on Sunday.
Conversely, pro-Russian factions emphasized themes of national security and sovereignty. They cautioned that President Sandu’s party risked dragging Moldova into conflict with Russia, argued that EU integration would erode Moldova’s unique identity, and suggested the ruling party opposed traditional family values.
They also focused on high prices, particularly of gas.
Such messages resonated with some voters.
For instance, Palina Velimboskaia, a 62-year-old accountant in Chisinau, expressed concerns that the European Union might instigate conflict, drawing Moldova into war. She characterized Ms. Sandu’s party as a “dictatorship.”
Her comments echoed the messaging in much of the advertising by the pro-Russian parties.
According to Ms. Sandu’s party, Russia aggressively attempted to manipulate the election results. This included allegedly funneling hundreds of millions of dollars to bribe voters and launching a widespread disinformation campaign. Examples included fabricated YouTube videos implicating Ms. Sandu in outlandish scandals, such as an illegal celebrity sperm purchase, alongside circulating false accusations of vote-rigging.
On election day, as citizens cast their ballots, the Moldovan government confirmed cyberattacks targeting electoral systems and numerous hoax bomb threats at overseas polling stations, including those in Rome, Brussels, Bucharest, and Asheville, N.C. The Moldovan diaspora in Western nations is a crucial base of support for pro-European political figures.
Authorities also reported detaining three individuals suspected of planning to incite unrest at a post-election protest, found with “pyrotechnics and inflammables” in their vehicle.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, publicly celebrated the outcome on social media.
“Our door is open,” she wrote. “And we will stand with you every step of the way.”
Throughout her campaign, Ms. Sandu’s party consistently highlighted Russia’s disruptive influence in Moldova, asserting that closer ties with Russia would leave the nation vulnerable during an unpredictable time.
Addressing journalists outside a Chisinau polling station on Sunday, Ms. Sandu declared, “Moldova is in danger. Russia possesses the capacity to inflict substantial harm, seeking to control us to leverage us against other sovereign nations.”
An image shows President Maia Sandu of Moldova speaking to a crowd of journalists outside a polling station.
As a candidate country, Moldova is already receiving financial assistance from the European Union. These EU ties have gained increased importance, particularly as the United States, under the Trump administration, reduced its foreign aid commitments to the region.
Nevertheless, Moldova grapples with significant challenges, including sluggish economic growth and widespread poverty affecting approximately one-third of its population. While EU membership promises long-term economic advantages, it also demands adherence to rigorous standards and regulations, which can be difficult to implement.
Several voters noted that the political discourse in Moldova has become more divisive.
Angelina Zubac, a 61-year-old former accountant, commented on the increasingly “rough” and pro-Russian political climate as she entered a polling station, emphasizing the election’s critical nature.
Her concern was that a rise in pro-Russian influence and a failed EU bid would lead Moldova to “stagnate and go back to 40 years ago.”
Valentina Hamuraru, a 68-year-old retiree, shared comparable anxieties as she prepared to vote.
“My biggest worry is that we lose what we have gained so far: freedom,” she said.
Ruxanda Spatari contributed to this report from Chisinau.