Pro-EU Party Wins Moldova's Election Amid Meddling Claims

The parliamentary elections in Moldova, which are seen as crucial for the country's future path towards the European Union, have been held under allegations of "massive interference" by Russia. Preliminary results of the elections show that the pro-European "Action and Solidarity" party (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, is in the lead.

Sandu's party has won an absolute majority of seats in Moldova's new parliament, with the pro-Russian opposition suffering another defeat. After counting about 97% of the votes, the "Action and Solidarity Party" (PAS) received 49.7% of the vote, which gives it 54 of the 101 seats in parliament.

The voting was preceded by a tense situation, during which the authorities announced unprecedented attempts by Russia to spread disinformation and buy votes. A BBC investigation uncovered a network that paid participants to spread pro-Russian propaganda and fake news.

In addition, dozens of people have been arrested, accused of undergoing firearms training in Serbia and coordinating riots. Parties sympathetic to Moscow have described the police claims as false and staged, aimed at frightening people and forcing them to support the government. Russia has denied these accusations, calling them an attempt by Moldova and its "Western patrons" to divert attention from the country's "internal problems."

President Maia Sandu, who stressed the seriousness of the situation in a conversation with journalists at a polling station, warned that her country's future is at stake. The main competitor to her party (PAS) is the pro-Russian "Patriotic Electoral Alliance."

The tension of the elections is also evidenced by bomb threats at polling stations in Italy, Romania, Spain, and the USA. Voter turnout was slightly over 52%, which is higher than in recent years. An important factor is also the participation of more than 267,000 voters from the predominantly pro-Western diaspora.

These elections are seen as a turning point for Moldova. If PAS maintains its majority in the 101-seat parliament, it will most likely be perceived by Brussels as a mandate to accelerate the EU accession process. On the other hand, a coalition led by the opposition could slow down or change the direction of that process.

The vote of Moldovan citizens will, in fact, determine not only the country's internal governance but also its geopolitical orientation for the coming years. So, while being an internal issue, according to many experts, the elections held in Moldova will play a decisive role in the alignment of forces, at least on a regional scale.