The pro-European party of Moldovan President Maia Sandu has declared victory, securing a new parliamentary majority in Sunday’s elections, which are seen as pivotal for Moldova’s EU trajectory.
Sandu warned of “massive Russian interference” ahead of the vote. Igor Grosu, leader of Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), which captured roughly 50% of votes, said Russia had “thrown everything it had” into the election.
Opposition leader Igor Dodon claimed victory prematurely and called for protests in Chișinău, though turnout for Monday’s demonstration was low and largely comprised of pensioners.
With 99.9% of 1.6 million votes counted, PAS earned 50.17%, well ahead of the pro-Russian Electoral Bloc of Patriots at 24.18%. Voter turnout was 52%, higher than in recent years.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the result, writing: “You made your choice clear: Europe. Democracy. Freedom.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Sandu for defending democracy and countering Russian influence.
Russia criticized the vote, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claiming that “hundreds of thousands of Moldovans were deprived of the chance to vote in Russia” due to limited polling centers.
PAS is poised to secure 55 of 101 parliamentary seats, enabling it to form a government without needing support from other parties.
