In the Moldovan general elections, the pro-European ruling party is forecasted to secure a majority of seats, leading nearly double the margin over the pro-Russian factions. This election, held amidst allegations of Russian interference, is seen as a pivotal moment in determining the country’s future direction between joining the European Union (EU) and expanding Russian influence.
According to Moldova’s Central Election Commission, with 98.50% of the votes counted from an election that saw a turnout of 52.15% of eligible voters, the ruling party Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, received 49.71% of the votes. As a result, PAS is expected to secure at least 54 seats in Moldova’s 101-seat Parliament. In contrast, the pro-Russian “Patriotic Bloc,” which includes the Socialist and Communist parties, only garnered 24.45% of the vote. Government spokesperson Daniel Voda remarked, “The people of Moldova are speaking out,” adding that “Moldova desires peace and development as an EU member.”
Earlier this month, a poll suggested that the Patriotic Bloc was slightly ahead, raising concerns that the ruling party might fail to secure a majority. However, with PAS’s commanding lead in the actual vote count, analysts predict that anticipated coalition negotiations will be less contentious. The Patriotic Bloc aimed to capitalize on public dissatisfaction with economic turmoil and delayed reforms but was overshadowed by extensive misinformation campaigns and voter anger over Russia’s repeated incursions into European airspace.
Moldova, a small Eastern European country with an area about one-third of South Korea’s and a population of 2.6 million, has faced political and economic instability due to Russian interference, energy shortages, and the fallout from the Ukrainian war since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moldova’s geopolitical importance has increased significantly. Moldova, along with Ukraine, gained EU candidate status in 2022, and PAS aims for full EU membership by 2030.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Russia launched a large-scale nighttime aerial attack across Ukraine, damaging the Polish embassy in Kyiv. The Polish Foreign Ministry reported that missile fragments or small rockets pierced the embassy’s roof. Ukrainian authorities stated that Russia launched over 500 drones and more than 40 missiles, killing at least four people and injuring over 80.