The atmosphere in Moldova remains tense following the parliamentary elections held on 28 September. The vote was not merely a domestic test of strength; behind the scenes, Moscow and Brussels were engaged in a discreet struggle for influence. In the end, despite Russian disinformation campaigns and unusual Western involvement, voters tipped the balance towards Europe.
If there is one experience I would recommend to anyone whom fate carries to Moldova, it is an early morning jog in Chișinău. Leaving my hotel, I head first towards the Eternity Memorial, then the city’s water tower, and finally Lake Valea Morilor. In the morning silence, it becomes easier to discern just how curious Moldovan society is – even in the capital. Two men in their sixties sit on a bench talking. One gestures animatedly in Romanian, while the other responds only in Russian. But the tension is not just linguistic – it is rooted in identity, itself born of history. Moldova’s past is tumultuous, and the storms of history have left division in their wake. In recent years – particularly since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine – Moldova has become more polarised than ever: into pro-Western and pro-Russian camps. This sharp divide shaped this year's elections.
According to official data, President Maia Sandu’s governing party, the pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), secured just over 50% of the vote, while its main rival, the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc, received around 24%. PAS is set to take roughly 55 seats in the 101-member parliament, securing a majority to govern alone. Turnout stood at around 52%, similar to the previous parliamentary election.
The votes of Moldovans abroad proved particularly decisive: nearly 300,000 citizens living overseas cast their ballots, with an overwhelming majority backing PAS. This substantial diaspora participation significantly bolstered the success of pro-EU forces, offsetting the internal divide between supporters of East and West. We travelled to Chișinău to gauge the mood two weeks after this pivotal election.
A Tense Campaign, Shadows from Outside
The campaign was marked by a succession of internal and geopolitical tensions. In the final weeks, authorities conducted nationwide raids to thwart an alleged Russian plan to orchestrate “mass unrest and destabilisation”. Two minor pro-Moscow parties – including the Heart of Moldova and Greater Moldova movements – were disqualified just before the vote on charges of illegal funding and vote-buying. On election day, bomb threats disrupted several overseas polling stations, and police detained suspects linked to the Russian-controlled Transnistrian region. Prime Minister Dorin Recean warned that Moscow was moving “hundreds of millions of euros” to buy votes and launch cyberattacks in an attempt to “seize power”.
Meanwhile, representatives from Moldova’s two “problematic” regions – the breakaway Transnistria and the autonomous Gagauzia – told us that Chișinău had made it impossible for their voters to participate. Just weeks before the elections, the Gagauz governor was jailed, and the number of polling stations in Transnistria was reduced.
President Sandu claimed that Russia was “intervening massively” in the election, while she herself voted “for peace”, as she envisions Moldova’s future within the EU. Igor Grosu, the PAS leader, declared that “Russia tried with immense force to derail the electoral process”, though state institutions had sought to preserve the integrity of the vote. He accused Moscow of deploying “mountains of money and lies”, even using criminals to influence the campaign.
Western Support – and Criticism
Alongside Russian attempts at interference, the West – especially the European Union and several major European states – did not remain on the sidelines during the campaign. In Moldovan political circles, many perceived this not just as support, but as open intervention.
The weeks before the vote saw an unprecedented surge in diplomatic activity: French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk all visited Chișinău, visibly backing Sandu’s government. Macron openly condemned Russian “lies and propaganda”, while Merz promised technical assistance and support for European reforms.
The EU also provided financial backing: multi-billion-euro aid packages were approved, as Moldova was treated as a strategically vital buffer zone. Yet these gestures in favour of the pro-Western government were not without controversy. In the final stages of the campaign, several opposition, pro-Moscow candidates and parties were excluded, authorities carried out mass searches, and even restricted the movement of voters coming from the breakaway Transnistrian region.
Another scandal erupted during the campaign: Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, claimed that French intelligence services had asked him to shut down certain channels ahead of the Moldovan elections – an act he branded as political censorship. While the ruling party argued it was defending democracy, critics insisted that the West was directly meddling in the electoral process.
Some observers believe the EU and its member states could not risk losing Moldova to Moscow, but that such active influence places a long-term question mark over the country’s democratic sovereignty. Ion Manole, director of the Moldovan human rights organisation Promo-LEX – who has spent the past 20 years fighting abuses in Transnistria – told us that it is not only the separatist authorities who violate voting rights. In his view, Chișinău is not averse to infringing human rights either. He believes Europe is more lenient with Moldova’s government because it sees it as part of the struggle against Russia – even when it uses similar methods to its rivals.
Protest and Relief
After the vote, former president Igor Dodon called for street protests, alleging fraud. On Monday, a few hundred people gathered in Chișinău to contest the result, though the demonstration fizzled out due to lack of interest. International observers, however, highlighted that the election was overall free and fair – a “competitive process offering citizens a genuine choice”. In the West, the result was greeted with relief: European leaders hailed Moldovans’ defiance of unprecedented Russian influence.
Moscow, meanwhile, continues to dispute the outcome. The Kremlin claims many Moldovans living in Russia were excluded from voting, as only two polling stations were opened for them. The great power tug-of-war over Moldova thus continues – though Europe has gained the upper hand for now.
European Horizons
Travelling along Moldova’s highways, one notices something intriguing. The newly resurfaced main roads – renovated with EU funds – are emblazoned with state-sponsored slogans striking a notably optimistic tone: “Long live Moldova’s EU accession in 2030!” While many question whether this is a realistic ambition for Chișinău, the clear delivery of this message is vital to the pro-European population.
The election result has given fresh momentum to Moldova’s EU integration. According to Sandu, it represents a “strong mandate” to continue accession efforts. Moldova has already begun membership negotiations, and the EU has signalled it is open to accelerating enlargement before the end of the decade. It has even been suggested that Chișinău – if reforms succeed – could progress faster than Ukraine, though this remains a sensitive issue.
The coming period will be a major test for Moldova’s new leadership: it must hold together a divided society while delivering tangible progress on the road to EU membership.