The pro-European party of Moldovan President Maia Sandu has claimed victory and a new majority in parliament in Sunday’s elections seen as critical for her country's future path to the EU.
Sandu had warned of massive Russian interference after voting, saying the future of Moldova, flanked by Ukraine and Romania, was at stake.
Igor Grosu, the leader of Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) which secured about 50% of the vote, said Russia had thrown everything it had at the election.
Opposition leader Igor Dodon had claimed victory even before results appeared and called for protests outside parliament in the capital Chisinau on Monday.
However, the win by PAS is emphatic: Monday's protest was tiny and mostly attended by pensioners. And there is no sense at this point that they have any momentum.
With 99.9% of the 1.6 million votes counted, PAS had 50.17% of the vote - far ahead of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc on 24.18%, according to Moldova's central electoral commission.
Turnout was 52%, higher than in recent years.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the result, stating: You made your choice clear: Europe. Democracy. Freedom.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised Sandu, saying she had saved democracy and stopped Russia in its attempts to take control over the whole region. A good lesson for us all.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mirrored this sentiment, emphasizing that these elections showcased the loss of Russia's destabilizing activities.
In Russia, the Kremlin criticized the election, claiming many Moldovans were deprived of their voting opportunity abroad due to a lack of polling stations.
Recent votes in Moldova have shown significant competition, but initial returns indicated that Sandu's party was on track for another majority in the 101-seat parliament. The president's party won 52.8% of the vote four years ago, and it is now set to clinch 55 seats.
To form a government, PAS will not need to rely on support from other parties, such as the Alternativa bloc or the populist Our Party.
Amidst the tension surrounding the vote, bomb scares were reported at polling stations in several countries, including Italy, Romania, Spain, and the US. Grosu attributed these incidents to criminal groups backed by Moscow.
Moldova is also challenged by a pro-Russian breakaway enclave called Transnistria, where many residents strongly support Moscow’s influence.
Having faced recent turmoil due to Russia's war in Ukraine, many Moldovans grapple with soaring prices and corruption.
President Sandu, who won her second term last November, admonished voters about the importance of their support for democracy: Don't play with your vote or you'll lose everything!
Dodon rallied his supporters on national TV, insisting his bloc had actually defeated the government and calling for protests outside parliament.
With numerous allegations of pre-election disinformation by Russia and reports of arrests related to plans for unrest, Moldova's political landscape remains precarious. Citizens expressed both hope for a European future and frustrations with local governance.
As Moldova continues its journey towards EU integration, the outcomes of these elections underscore the delicate nature of its democracy.
