The pro-EU Moldova party wins a clear parliamentary majority, beating pro-Russian groups

Moldova ‘S pro-western governing party won a clear parliamentary majority, beating pro-Russian Groups in an election which was largely considered as a brutal choice between the east and the west.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, praised the result of elections in a social media position on Monday.

“Moldova, you have started again. No attempt to sow fear or division could break your determination. You have explained your choice: Europe. Democracy. Liberty,” said Von Der Leyen. “Our door is open. And we will stay with you at every stage.”

With almost all the parking reports that count on Monday, the electoral data showed that the pro-EU Action and Solidarity Party, or AP, had 50.1% of the votes, while the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc was 24.2%. The convivial alternativa block in Russia arrived third, followed by the populist of our group. Right -to -home democracy has also won enough votes to enter Parliament.

The ballot set on Sunday opposed the step governing to several opponents favorable to Russia, but no viable pro-European partner. The electoral data indicate that the party will hold a clear majority of around 55 of the 101 seats in the Legislative Assembly.

It is likely that President Maia Sandu, who founded the plunge in 2016, will opt for a certain continuity by appointing pro-Western Prime Minister Dorin Recean, an economist who has led the government of Moldava through several crises since 2023, to remain as Prime Minister. Recean was also advisor to the defense and security of Sandu.

The election was largely considered as a geopolitical choice for Moldovans between a path to the European Union or a drift in the lap of Moscow. The outcome of the voting on Sunday issues was remarkable given the repeated claims of the Moldovan authorities according to which Russia produced a large “Hybrid war” To try to influence the result.

Moldova applied to reach the EU in 2022 following Russia large -scale invasion from Ukraine, and obtained the status of candidate that year. Brussels agreed to open membership negotiations last year.

The alleged Russian projects included the orchestration of a large -scale voting purchase program, leading more than 1,000 cyber attacks on critical government infrastructure this year, a plan to encourage riots around Sunday elections and an online sprawling disinformation campaign to Sway voters.

Speaking via Videolink at a security conference in Poland on Monday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy Russia failed to “destabilize” Moldova, even “after having spent huge huge resources to undermine it and corrupt who they could”.

Friday, the president of Moldova, Sandu, said that it was the most substantial election in the country.

“Its result will decide whether we consolidate our democracy and join the EU, or if Russia brings us back to a gray area, making us a regional risk,” said Sandu in an article on X.

Cristian Mantir, an associate professor of international relations at Oakland University, told the Associated Press that PAS victory is “a clear victory for the pro-European forces in Moldova, who will be able to ensure the continuity of the coming years in pursuing their ultimate objective of the integration of the EU”.

“A majority not saved the part of having to form a coalition which would probably have been unstable and would have slowed down the pace of reforms to join the EU,” he said, adding that “Moldova will continue to be in a difficult geopolitical environment characterized by Russia attempts to remove it in its basin.”

In an interview with the AP a few days before the vote, the head of the PAS, Igor Grosu, also warned of the Russian interference and said that the results of Sunday would define the future of the country “not only for the next four years, but for many years in advance”.

“But I believe in the spirit of determining and mobilization of Moldovans, at home and the diaspora,” he said.

The election day was hampered by a series of incidents, ranging from bomb threats to several polling stations abroad to cyber attacks on electoral and government infrastructure, voters photographing their ballots and some illegally transported to polling stations. Three people were also detained, suspected of conspiracy to cause unrest after the vote.

The PAS has campaigned on a commitment to continue the Moldova path to the EU membership by signing an adhesion treaty to the 27 nations block by 2028, doubling income, modernizing infrastructure and fighting corruption.

After a legislative election, the president of Moldova appoints a Prime Minister, generally of the main party or block, which can then try to form a new government. A proposed government then needs parliamentary approval.

Some 1.6 million people, or around 52.1% of eligible voters, according to the Central Electoral Commission, including 280,000 from votes in polling stations developed abroad.