In a closely watched election that many considered the most critical in Moldova’s recent history, the nation’s pro-European party has emerged victorious, retaining its majority in Parliament. Preliminary results, released on Monday, confirmed this significant win, marking a clear rejection of Russian interference in the Eastern European country’s political landscape.
This outcome is poised to advance Moldova’s ambition to join the European Union. Had pro-Russian factions gained substantial ground, this path would have been severely jeopardized, altering the geopolitical balance in a region already tense due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Photos from Chisinau on Sunday showed Igor Grosu, a leader of the pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity, speaking at a lectern, a symbol of the democratic process unfolding.
Moldova, a small nation of just 2.4 million people nestled between Romania and Ukraine, holds considerable strategic importance. The election itself became a stark referendum on the country’s future direction: closer alignment with Europe or a return to Russia’s sphere of influence. The pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity, led by President Maia Sandu, secured this anticipated victory even amidst persistent domestic challenges like high gas prices and widespread poverty.
The geopolitical map of the region highlights Moldova’s critical position, bordered by Romania and Ukraine, with Russia further to its northeast.
International recognition of Moldova’s choice was swift. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union’s executive arm, publicly celebrated the results in a social media post.
“Our door is open,” she stated, adding, “And we will stand with you every step of the way.”
However, the tensions of the election were palpable. On Monday, several hundred individuals gathered in front of the Parliament in Chisinau, engaging in both protests and counter-protests. Chants of “Moldova” filled the air as national flags were waved, and pro-Russian officials addressed the crowds. Police had previously expressed concerns about paid protesters potentially disrupting the peace following the announcement of results.
With nearly all votes tallied by Monday morning, Ms. Sandu’s party had garnered slightly more than 50 percent of the vote, a substantial lead over the next contender, the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc, which received 24 percent. This result is expected to grant the pro-European party more than half of the 101 seats in Moldova’s parliament, a decisive mandate from the electorate.
This election unfolds at a pivotal moment for Moldova’s international standing. As a former Soviet republic with deep historical ties to Russia, Moldova has increasingly gravitated towards the European Union in recent years. In 2020, Maia Sandu was elected president, championing this pro-European vision.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Moldovans saw closer ties with Europe as the most effective safeguard against future Russian dominance. The country formally applied for EU membership, and a referendum held last October solidified support for joining the bloc by a narrow margin of 50.4 percent to 49.5 percent. This close call underscored the ruling party’s vulnerability in the recent election.
Photos from Chisinau showed soldiers waiting in line to cast their ballots on Sunday, underscoring the solemnity of the occasion.
Conversely, pro-Russian parties centered their campaigns on themes of security and national sovereignty. They warned that Ms. Sandu’s policies risked embroiling Moldova in conflict with Russia, threatened the nation’s unique identity, and challenged traditional family values. High energy prices, particularly for gas, also featured prominently in their messaging, resonating with a segment of the electorate.
Such messages landed with some voters.
Palina Velimboskaia, a 62-year-old accountant in Chisinau, voiced her concerns about potential European Union-provoked conflict. Standing outside a polling place in a residential part of the capital, she characterized Ms. Sandu’s government as a “dictatorship,” reflecting sentiments amplified by pro-Russian campaign efforts.
Her comments echoed the messaging in much of the advertising by the pro-Russian parties.
Throughout the campaign, Russia actively sought to influence the outcome. Ms. Sandu’s party alleged that Russia funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to buy off voters and orchestrated an extensive disinformation campaign. Examples included fabricated YouTube videos implicating Ms. Sandu in absurd scandals, such as an illegal celebrity sperm purchase, and widespread false reports of vote-rigging.
On Election Day, the Moldovan government reported a barrage of cyberattacks targeting electoral systems and a series of hoax bomb threats at polling sites for expatriates in various cities, including Rome, Brussels, Bucharest, and Asheville, North Carolina. The Moldovan diaspora, particularly in Western countries, represents a crucial base of support for pro-European candidates.
In a related incident, police announced the detention of three individuals suspected of plotting to incite chaos at a post-election protest, found with “pyrotechnics and inflammables” in their vehicle.
President Sandu’s party consistently highlighted Russia’s disruptive influence, arguing that closer ties with Moscow would leave Moldova vulnerable. “Moldova is in danger,” Ms. Sandu declared outside a Chisinau polling station, surrounded by journalists. “Russia can do a lot of harm. It wants to control us in order to use us against other states.” Images from the day captured President Sandu speaking confidently into a microphone amidst a large crowd, with many photographers capturing the moment.
While Moldova benefits from significant financial aid from the European Union as a candidate country, and EU connections are becoming increasingly vital amid a perceived withdrawal of US support (especially with the Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid), the country still faces substantial challenges. These include sluggish economic growth and persistent poverty, with approximately one in three Moldovans living below the poverty line. Furthermore, EU membership demands adherence to complex product standards and trade rules, which can be difficult for aspiring nations to meet.
Several voters also observed a growing polarization in Moldova’s political discourse.
“It’s more rough now, in favor of Russia,” Angelina Zubac, a 61-year-old former accountant, said as she walked into a voting station on Sunday, emphasizing the election’s criticality. She feared that a failure of the EU bid due to pro-Russian gains would lead to Moldova’s stagnation, echoing conditions from “40 years ago.”
Valentina Hamuraru, a 68-year-old retiree, shared similar anxieties as she cast her own vote.
“My biggest worry is that we lose what we have gained so far: freedom,” she stated, encapsulating the profound stakes of this pivotal election. Ruxanda Spatari contributed reporting from Chisinau.