Parliamentary election: ProEuropean government party retains majority in Moldova

In the trend -setting parliamentary election in the Republic of Moldova, the pro -European government party PAS around President Maia Sandu kept its majority in parliament. After counting almost all votes, she won 49.8 percent, as the central election commission in Chisinau announced on her website during the night. In second place came with 24.4 percent the Russian-friendly patriotic block around ex-President Igor Dodon. The turnout was given as around 52 percent and was therefore slightly higher than 2021 (48 percent).

The parliamentary election in the impoverished agricultural state between EU member Romania and Ukraine was considered directional. Moldau with its 2.4 million inhabitants has been a candidate for the EU since 2022. In a referendum, a narrow majority voted for an EU accession last year. Sandu wants to continue reforms with a majority of pro -European forces. Compared to the election four years ago, the PAS had to accept loss.

In addition to PAS and the Patriotic Block, the Russian -friendly forces of the Alternative election alliance (8.0 percent) and the Nostru (6.2 percent) party made it into the 101 seats. The mayor of the state capital Chisinau, Ion Ceban, and Alexandr Stoianoglo-Sandus in the runoff election around the Presidential Office in 2024 also belong to the election block Alternative. The PPDA party, which was once founded for a union with Romania, also made the leap over the 5 percent hurdle (5.7 percent).

Ex-President announces protest

Long before all the votes were counted, Dodon had already announced protest from the patriotic block. PAS lost the election that the opposition had won, he said before midnight in front of the Central Election Commission.

Young people in particular feared their future in the parliamentary election. “We have to decide on our future, not our grandparents and people who mourn the Soviet Union,” said 31-year-old Mihaela Pirgari on election day. When it comes to the fact that Moldau might not be able to continue to join the EU, the tears came to her. Two pensioners reported on their small pension and complained that the PAS government had not done enough for them. They are not against the EU, but they also wanted good relationships with Russia. They did not believe in their country’s access to the EU, they said.

Allegations of interference and manipulation

Sandu had accused Russia of massive influence in the election campaign before the election. Moldova authorities spoke of buying Russian voices, disinformation in social networks and cyber attacks.

Moscow, in turn, accused the leadership in the capital Chisinau manipulation – so Russia -friendly parties and forces were excluded from the election. On election day there were complaints that citizens from the renegade region of Transnistria could not get to Vlaver due to a bridge closed in the course of an alleged bomb threat. Traditionally, people in Transnistria with a Moldovian passport also have an influence on the election outcome.

Torn back and forth between EU course and traditional proximity to Moscow

Proeuropean and pro -Russian forces have been arguing for the course in the Republic of Moldova for decades. In the capital Chisinau, too, many people said on election day that there were only these two directions for the country.

Hundreds of thousands of Moldova who live abroad – many of them in the EU were also called for election. Traditionally, they have a big influence on who rules in their homeland. In the runoff election around the presidency last year, Sandu prevailed with her voices against Stoianoglo.

The preliminary end result is expected this Monday, as well as an initial assessment by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is used with election observers.