Moldova’s recent election proved to be a nail-biting contest, culminating in a projected victory for the nation’s pro-European party. This outcome, achieved despite significant alleged Russian interference, is widely considered the most crucial in Moldova’s recent history, likely securing the party’s parliamentary majority.
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Once the final votes are officially tallied on Monday, this victory could significantly advance Moldova’s ambition to join the European Union. Had parties aligned with Russia gained substantial ground, the path to E.U. membership would have faced severe threats.
Despite its small size—a nation of just 2.4 million nestled between Romania and Ukraine—Moldova’s election garnered immense global attention. Its strategic location, particularly with the ongoing war in Ukraine, elevated this vote into a referendum on Moldova’s future: a choice between closer ties with Europe or renewed alignment with Russia.
The anticipated win for the pro-European faction also suggests that pervasive domestic issues, such as soaring gas prices and widespread poverty, did not deter voters from their European aspirations.
An accompanying map illustrates Moldova’s strategic location, situated between Romania and Ukraine, with Russia to its northeast, underscoring the regional dynamics at play.
The election, which aimed to elect 101 representatives to Moldova’s Parliament, occurred at a critical juncture in the nation’s geopolitics. Moldova, despite its deep historical ties to Russia, has steadily pursued closer relations with the European Union in recent years.
President Maia Sandu, a strong advocate for European integration, was first elected in 2020.
Then, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Moldovans increasingly viewed stronger European alignment as their best defense against potential future dominance from Moscow. Moldova formally applied for E.U. membership, and a referendum last October solidified popular support for joining the bloc within the Moldovan Constitution.
However, that constitutional amendment passed by a slim margin of 50.4 percent to 49.5 percent. This razor-thin victory hinted that President Sandu’s party faced a genuine risk of losing support in the current election.
In Chisinau on Sunday, soldiers were observed waiting to cast their votes, reflecting widespread civic participation in the electoral process.
Conversely, pro-Russian parties centered their campaigns on themes of security and national sovereignty. They cautioned that Sandu’s administration might inadvertently draw Moldova into conflict with Russia, argued that E.U. integration would compromise national identity, and positioned themselves as defenders of traditional family values.
These parties also heavily emphasized the economic burden of high prices, particularly for natural gas, which resonated with some voters.
“The European Union would provoke war and drag Moldova into it,” expressed Palina Velimboskaia, a 62-year-old accountant, outside a Chisinau polling station. She controversially labeled President Sandu’s party a “dictatorship,” a sentiment echoing much of the pro-Russian campaign advertising.
President Sandu’s party accused Russia of attempting to manipulate the election results through substantial financial investment—allegedly hundreds of millions of dollars—to buy votes and orchestrate a vast disinformation campaign. This included fabricated online videos implicating Ms. Sandu in made-up scandals, such as an illegal celebrity sperm purchase, and widespread false reports of vote rigging.
On election day itself, the Moldovan government reported facing cyberattacks on its electoral systems and dealing with numerous hoax bomb threats at polling stations. These threats extended to voting sites serving the Moldovan diaspora in international cities like Rome, Brussels, Bucharest, Romania, and Asheville, N.C. The diaspora’s votes are crucial for pro-European candidates.
Authorities also announced the detention of three individuals suspected of planning to incite unrest after the vote, found with “pyrotechnics and inflammables” in their vehicle.
Throughout the campaign, President Sandu’s party consistently highlighted Russia’s destabilizing influence in Moldova, asserting that closer ties with Russia would leave the nation vulnerable during a perilous global period.
“Moldova is in danger,” President Sandu declared to a throng of journalists outside a Chisinau polling station. “Russia can inflict significant harm. It aims to control us to then use us against other nations.”
A photograph captures President Maia Sandu of Moldova speaking to a large crowd of people and journalists outside a polling station in Chisinau on Sunday.
Despite the challenges, Moldova is already receiving substantial financial aid from the European Union due to its candidate status. These E.U. ties have become increasingly vital as the United States’ engagement in the region has diminished, partly due to cuts in foreign aid.
However, Moldova still grapples with significant internal issues, including sluggish economic growth. Approximately one in three citizens lives in poverty. While E.U. membership promises long-term economic advantages, it also demands adherence to strict product standards and trade regulations, which can present considerable challenges for the aspiring member.
Several voters observed a growing polarization in Moldova’s political discussions.
“It’s more aggressive now, favoring Russia,” noted Angelina Zubac, a 61-year-old former accountant, as she entered a polling station, emphasizing the “critical” nature of the election.
She expressed concern that a rise in pro-Russian power and a failure of the E.U. bid would lead to “Moldova stagnating and reverting to how it was 40 years ago.”
Valentina Hamuraru, a 68-year-old pensioner, shared similar anxieties while casting her vote.
“My biggest worry is that we lose what we have gained so far: freedom,” she stated.
Reporting from Chisinau, Moldova. By Jeanna Smialek. Sept. 28, 2025. Ruxanda Spatari contributed reporting.