Moldova's Pro-EU Party Secures Parliamentary Majority Amid Allegations of Russian Interference

Moldova's pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) has secured a clear parliamentary majority in the recent elections, defeating pro-Russian groups. With nearly all votes counted, PAS garnered 50.1% of the vote, while the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc received 24.2%. This outcome grants PAS approximately 55 of the 101 seats in the legislature, enabling it to form a government without coalition partners.

The election was widely viewed as a geopolitical choice for Moldovans between a path toward the European Union or a closer alignment with Russia. Moldova, a former Soviet republic, has pursued a pro-European trajectory in recent years, applying for EU membership in 2022 and being granted candidate status the same year.

At the PAS campaign headquarters in Chișinău, party leader Igor Grosu described the election as a decisive battle for the country's future. He stated that the victory was not only for PAS but for the people, emphasizing the challenges faced, including alleged Russian interference. Grosu accused Russia of deploying significant resources to influence the election outcome.

President Maia Sandu, who founded PAS in 2016, is expected to nominate a prime minister from the party to form a new government. Prime Minister Dorin Recean, an economist who has led Moldova through multiple crises since 2023, is considered a likely candidate. Recean highlighted the resilience of Moldovans against external influences, noting the importance of uniting society in the face of alleged Russian attempts to create division.

The election period was marked by incidents such as bomb threats at polling stations abroad and cyberattacks on electoral infrastructure. Authorities detained individuals suspected of plotting unrest following the vote. Former President Igor Dodon, a member of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc, called for protests alleging electoral interference by PAS, though no evidence was presented.

PAS campaigned on continuing Moldova's path toward EU membership, aiming to sign an accession treaty by 2028, modernize infrastructure, and combat corruption. The party's victory is seen as a clear mandate for pro-European forces to pursue these goals.

Approximately 1.6 million people, or about 52.1% of eligible voters, participated in the election, including 280,000 Moldovans voting from abroad.