According to official figures, the pro-EU party of President Maia Sandu received over 50% of the vote, amid allegations of cheating and misuse of administrative resources
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RT reports: Moldova’s opposition gained 49.8% of the vote in a tightly contested parliamentary election, narrowly trailing the ruling pro-EU PAS party, which secured 50.2%, the EU candidate country's Central Electoral Commission announced on Monday, after all ballots were counted.
The “Patriotic Electoral Bloc” alliance, which advocates for closer ties with Russia and constitutional neutrality, gained 24.2% while centrist Alternativa got 8% and the left-leaning and Eurosceptic Our Party secured 6.2% of the ballot. Smaller pro-European and centrist groups such as PPDA (5.6%) also entered parliament, while several minor parties failed to gain more than 1%.
However, the voting process was marked by widespread complaints of uneven access. Out of 301 foreign polling stations, only two were opened in Russia despite the country hosting one of the largest Moldovan diaspora communities in the world, up to 500,000 people.
Just over 4,100 votes were recorded in Russia, with long lines reported in Moscow, while in Italy – another major destination for Moldovan workers – over 70 polling sites enabled tens of thousands to cast ballots.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the elections’ results, while drawing attention to the fact that “some political forces have expressed their disagreement [and] are talking about possible violations in the elections.”
Former Moldovan President Igor Dodon, one of the leaders of the Patriotic Bloc, disputed the results, saying that the pro-EU party of President Maia Sandu had only managed to hold onto power thanks to the diaspora’s votes.
Sandu said she was happy the Moldovans made their choice “despite all the interference and money spent by Moscow.” Russia has consistently denied any election interference claims.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the outcome of the elections, saying: “No attempt to sow fear or division could break your resolve. You made your choice clear: Europe. Democracy. Freedom.”