Moldova's Pro-European Party Secures Parliamentary Majority Amid Russian Interference Concerns

Moldova's pro-European ruling party has retained its parliamentary majority following a pivotal election on Sunday, bolstering the country's ambition to move closer to the European Union (EU) and away from Moscow’s influence. With over 99% of ballots counted, President Maia Sandu's pro-Western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) garnered 50.03% of the vote, positioning it to secure 55 of the 101 parliamentary seats. This compares to 24.26% for an alliance of Soviet-nostalgic parties led by former President Igor Dodon, according to results published by the election commission. The success of Sandu's PAS party exceeded pre-election predictions, which suggested the party might remain the largest but was at risk of losing its majority. This outcome could have hindered her agenda of pursuing EU membership within a decade. The election is viewed as a significant victory for Sandu, who has based her presidency on a pro-European trajectory and accused Russia of using dubious tactics to influence voters in the impoverished nation, strategically located between Ukraine and Romania. In Moldova, power is divided between the directly elected president and a prime minister appointed by the parliament, with PAS leader Igor Grosu expected to take the prime minister's post. This win is likely to bring relief to officials in Brussels and other European capitals, who feared that Moscow could regain influence in this strategically important region as it intensifies its hybrid campaign across Europe. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, celebrated the election result on social media, stating, "Moldova, you’ve done it again. No attempt to sow fear or division could break your resolve," and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting Moldova. While this election outcome is a boost for those advocating for Moldova's entry into the EU, the journey towards membership remains fraught with challenges. The country must implement extensive reforms and resolve the long-standing issue of Transnistria, a breakaway region with approximately 1,500 Russian troops stationed there. Other European leaders echoed von der Leyen’s sentiment. French President Emmanuel Macron remarked on social media that, despite attempts at interference and pressure, the voice of Moldovan citizens had prevailed. He pledged continued support for Moldova's European ambitions and its pursuit of freedom and sovereignty. The campaign leading up to the parliamentary vote was marred by allegations of Russian interference. Moldovan authorities accused Moscow of channeling substantial funds into pro-Russian parties, leveraging vote-buying schemes, and orchestrating propaganda campaigns designed to foster anti-Western sentiment. In a controversial move just prior to the election, two pro-Russian parties were barred from participating due to financing irregularities, inciting backlash from the opposition and condemnation from Moscow. Election day was marked by turmoil, with officials reporting attempts to disrupt the voting process, including cyberattacks on election systems and fake bomb threats at polling locations abroad. Stanislav Secrieru, Sandu's national adviser, claimed that voters were subjected to immense pressure from Russian entities and their affiliates, noting incidents of bomb threats reported at voting sites across Brussels, Rome, and the United States. The significant Moldovan diaspora, which generally supports closer ties with Europe, was anticipated to have a decisive impact on the election outcome. Dodon, who leads the Patriotic bloc opposing Sandu's pro-European direction, alleged electoral violations and called for all opposition parties to convene for a peaceful protest outside parliament on September 29. While the Kremlin has consistently disputed allegations of interference in Moldova, labeling them as anti-Russian and unfounded, the recent outcomes are seen as a setback for Moscow, which Moldovan officials claim invested considerable resources in supporting pro-Russian factions. A Western intelligence source informed the Guardian that Moldova had become a key focus of Russian foreign policy following the situation in Ukraine, with the Kremlin reportedly restructuring its team to adopt a more aggressive stance. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Moldova has alternated between pursuing closer ties with Brussels and maintaining relationships with Moscow. Sandu, a former World Bank official who was elected president in 2020 on an anticorruption mandate, led her government to conduct a referendum last October, resulting in a narrow vote to enshrine EU membership as a constitutional goal. On the same day, she was reelected for a four-year term. Now, she faces the critical challenge of addressing her government’s primary vulnerability: the economy. High inflation, persistent emigration, and modest GDP growth are significant issues. Supporters of Sandu argue that these challenges largely arise from external shocks, as Russia's war in Ukraine disrupted trade routes, triggered an energy crisis, and compelled Moldova to shelter tens of thousands of refugees. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2