Chisinau – AFP

The pro-European ruling party in Moldova praised its victory in the legislative elections overshadowed by accusations of Russian interference, describing it as an “exceptionally tough battle” to secure a slim parliamentary majority.

The small country, a candidate for EU membership and bordering Ukraine, which includes a pro-Russian separatist region, has long been divided over whether to move closer to Brussels or maintain historic ties with Moscow.

The elections held on Sunday were considered crucial for the former Soviet state to maintain momentum in its EU accession efforts, which began after Russia’s war on Ukraine in 2022.

Moldova’s president Maia Sandu from the ruling party told the media on Monday that “yesterday’s vote is a strong mandate for Moldova’s EU accession process.”

Igor Grosu, leader of the “Party of Action and Solidarity” (PAS), said at a press conference that “Russia threw all its weight into the battle (election)… It was not only PAS that won the vote, but the people won.”

However, analysts warned that the ruling party’s victory is “fragile” and that Russia remains capable of causing disruptions.

Counting more than 99.96 percent of votes showed that PAS, led by Maia Sandu, won 50.17 percent of the votes for the 101-seat parliament.

In contrast, the pro-Russian “Bloc of Communists and Socialists” received 24.18 percent of the votes, according to the election commission’s website.

The support level for PAS was lower than the 52.8 percent it won in 2021. The party’s parliamentary seats are expected to drop from 63 to 55. Voter turnout was 52 percent, similar to the 2021 legislative elections.

“The Right Path”

Moldovans had mixed feelings about the election results, with some praising the further step toward the EU and others doubting the Russian interference claims. Nadir Grinko (25) in Chisinau said, “It’s nice to wake up in Moldova that chose the right path: peace, development, and stability.” She added, “I feel more confident… I won’t have to move abroad as I planned.” But Liuba Pribishovsky (75) considered the result “negative,” expressing disappointment with the EU. She said, “They proved this interference!” referring to the Russian interference allegations.

Former president and one of the leaders of the pro-Russian bloc Igor Dodon called for “peaceful protests” on Monday, accusing PAS of vote theft. About two hundred people briefly gathered in front of the parliament building on Monday, chanting “Freedom for Moldova.”

“A European Future”

European leaders, including neighboring Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, praised the result as a victory for the continent.

Zelensky said, “Russia failed to destabilize Moldova after allocating very large resources to undermine it and corrupt anyone who could be corrupted.”

European Council President Antonio Costa said Moldova chose a “European future,” while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised Moldova for thwarting Russia’s ambitions and France congratulated Moldovans on their “sovereign” choice.

A joint statement from France, Germany, and Poland said, “Moldovan voters have once again shown they will not allow their future of peace and freedom to be taken away from them… despite unprecedented Russian interference.”

“Dirty Money”

Voters in the country of 2.4 million, one of Europe’s poorest, expressed frustration over economic difficulties and skepticism about EU accession efforts.

Moldova includes the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria, whose authorities said they faced attempts to restrict voting there. The election was overshadowed by fears of vote-buying, unrest, and an “unprecedented misinformation campaign” by Russia, according to the EU. Moscow denied the accusations.

The government accused the Kremlin of spending hundreds of millions in “dirty money” to interfere in the campaign.

Before the elections, the prosecutor’s office conducted hundreds of raids related to what the government called “electoral corruption” and “attempts to destabilize,” with dozens arrested.

Analyst Andrei Corararu from the Watchdog.md research center in Chisinau said, “Statistically, PAS has a fragile majority.” But he warned that the “danger” is not over yet, as “forming an effective government is difficult.”

He added that “the Kremlin funded a much bigger operation than it will back down from and may resort to protests, bribing PAS deputies, and other tactics to disrupt the formation of a stable pro-EU government.”