Moldova’s Pro-EU Party Secures Decisive Parliamentary Victory, Overcoming Pro-Russian Rivals

CHISINAU, Moldova – In a decisive electoral outcome, Moldova’s pro-European ruling party secured a commanding majority in parliament, overcoming rival factions aligned with Russia in a vote widely interpreted as a pivotal choice between Western integration and Eastern influence.

Preliminary results released Monday, with nearly all precincts reporting, revealed that the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), which champions EU membership, garnered 50.1% of the vote. The pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc followed with 24.2%, while the Russia-leaning Alternativa Bloc placed third. The populist Our Party and the right-wing Democracy at Home party also succeeded in winning parliamentary seats.

The election, held on Sunday, was marked by a stark confrontation between the incumbent PAS and several pro-Russian parties, with no significant pro-European opposition contenders. The results suggest PAS will command approximately 55 of the 101 parliamentary seats, ensuring a stable majority.

President Maia Sandu, who established PAS in 2016, is expected to maintain political consistency by reappointing Prime Minister Dorin Recean. An economist by training, Recean has guided Moldova through numerous challenges since 2023 and previously served as Sandu’s advisor on defense and security matters.

This election was widely perceived as a referendum on Moldova’s geopolitical direction: whether to deepen ties with the European Union or to gravitate back toward Moscow’s sphere of influence.

Cristian Cantir, an associate professor of international relations at Oakland University, described PAS’s triumph as “a definitive victory for pro-European forces in Moldova, enabling them to pursue EU integration with uninterrupted momentum over the coming years.”

He added, “Securing a majority spares PAS from forming a fragile coalition that could have hindered reform efforts. Nonetheless, Moldova will continue to navigate a challenging geopolitical landscape, with Russia persistently attempting to reassert its influence.”

The significance of Sunday’s vote is heightened by Moldovan officials’ repeated warnings about Russia’s extensive “hybrid warfare” tactics aimed at influencing the election. Since applying for EU membership in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moldova was granted candidate status and began accession talks last year.

Reported Russian interference allegedly included orchestrated vote-buying schemes, over a thousand cyberattacks targeting critical government systems this year, plans to incite unrest on election day, and a widespread disinformation campaign designed to manipulate voter sentiment.

In an interview shortly before the election, PAS leader Igor Grosu emphasized the gravity of the vote, stating it would shape Moldova’s trajectory “not just for the next four years, but for decades to come.” He expressed confidence in the resilience and mobilization of Moldovans both domestically and abroad.

Election day was marred by several disruptions, including bomb threats at overseas polling stations, cyberattacks on electoral infrastructure, voters photographing ballots in violation of rules, and illegal transportation of voters to polling sites. Authorities detained three individuals suspected of plotting post-election disturbances.

PAS campaigned on a platform promising to advance Moldova’s EU accession by signing a membership treaty by 2028, boost incomes, modernize infrastructure, and intensify anti-corruption efforts.

Following legislative elections, the president nominates a prime minister-typically from the majority party or coalition-who then seeks parliamentary approval to form a government.

Voter turnout reached approximately 52.1%, with around 1.6 million Moldovans casting ballots, including 280,000 votes from polling stations abroad, according to the Central Electoral Commission.