Moldova’s Central Election Commission has processed 99% of the protocols following the 28 September parliamentary elections. According to the counts, the pro-European ruling “Party of Action and Solidarity” (PAS) came close to a significant victory over the Russia-friendly “Patriotic Bloc”:
- PAS-49.85 per cent of the vote
- “patriotic bloc” – 24.36%
- “ALTERNATIVA” bloc – 8.02 per cent
- “Our Party” – 6.24 per cent
- Party “Democracy at Home” – 5.65 per cent.
More than 1.5 million Moldovans voted in the election amid widespread reports of Russian interference in the campaign. The Kremlin has denied the allegations.
The votes of the country’s influential foreign diaspora have yet to be counted. A preliminary tally of those votes indicates a significant lead for PAS, although the results are often volatile.
It is reported that more than 240,000 people have already voted outside the country, a record result for the Moldovan diaspora.
According to Radio Liberty’s preliminary calculations, PAS could have won 54 seats in the 101-member parliament – enough to secure a governing majority. The result of the Patriotic Bloc is estimated at 27 seats, while the three smaller parties will have between six and nine seats each.
Until the overall results are confirmed, it remains unclear whether PAS will have an absolute majority or whether a coalition party will be needed to govern.
Moldova’s president, PAS representative Maia Sandu will nominate a prime minister, usually from the leading party or bloc, who can then attempt to form a new government.
Before the election, the president said in an address that Russia’s plans “can only be stopped by the honest vote of Moldovans around the world”.
“Russia is a danger to our democracies. Our democracies are young and fragile, but that does not mean that states with longer democracies are not in danger. We want to live in a democracy,” Sandu said after casting her vote.
The election is seen as a key moment for the future of Moldova, which is a candidate country for EU membership. The ruling pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, has held a parliamentary majority since 2021.
However, polls have shown that PAS could lose that majority as opposition parties have struggled to attract voters concerned about rising prices, poverty and a slowing economy. The need to form a coalition government could complicate PAS efforts to get Moldova into the EU by 2030, analysts said.