Moldova’s pro-EU triumph sparks jubilation and backlash amid Russian critique

Moldova’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, secured a stunning 50.2% of the vote in Sunday’s parliamentary election, decisively defeating the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc’s 24.2%, bolstering Moldova’s EU membership bid by 2030.

The unexpectedly high support for PAS elicited widespread praise from EU leaders, who hailed the result as a rebuke of Russian interference, but drew sharp criticism from opposition figures and Moscow, who decried alleged electoral flaws and exclusionary tactics in a polarized nation.

EU leaders celebrated the outcome as a triumph for democracy. European Council President Antonio Costa declared on X that Moldovans “chose democracy, reform, and a European future” despite “unprecedented interference by Russia, including vote-buying schemes and disinformation.” A joint statement from French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk congratulated Moldova for its “peaceful conduct” under pressure, commending the “resounding mandate” for EU integration.

Macron, speaking at a Paris press conference, called the result a “clear signal” that Moldova rejects Moscow’s orbit, pledging €200 million in additional aid for energy diversification. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed this, stating on Telegram that the vote showed Russia’s failure to “destabilize Moldova,” a key neighbour amid Ukraine’s own fight against Russian aggression.

The high turnout – surpassing 50% compared to 2021’s 48.4% – reflected intense public engagement, with young voters like 18-year-old Ana-Maria Orsu in Chisinau expressing optimism. “I saw so many young people voting; we have a bright future ahead,” she said.

The diaspora, nearly 1 million Moldovans abroad, played a pivotal role, with 70% of overseas votes favoring PAS, reinforcing its lead, according to Central Electoral Commission (CEC) data. Sandu hailed the result on X as “not just a party’s victory – it is Moldova’s victory,” vowing to accelerate EU reforms.

However, the opposition and Russia fiercely contested the process. Patriotic Bloc co-leader Igor Dodon, a former president, accused PAS of manipulating the vote through diaspora turnout and filed complaints with the CEC, alleging unspecified “voting violations.” At a rally of 100 supporters outside parliament, Dodon claimed, without evidence, that over 200,000 Transnistria residents were denied voting access, a charge Sandu refuted, noting Moldova’s limited control over the pro-Russian separatist region.

Russia amplified these criticisms. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Moldova of disenfranchising its Russia-based diaspora by providing only two polling stations, impacting “hundreds of thousands.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, writing on the ministry’s website, slammed the result as deepening Moldova’s societal split, warning against the country becoming an “anti-Russian appendage of NATO.” She urged a “balanced approach” to avoid further polarization, framing PAS’s win as driven by “destructive” policies.

“The election’s integrity drew mixed reviews. The OSCE observer mission, led by Paula Cardoso, praised Moldova’s “high commitment to democracy” amid “unprecedented hybrid threats” from Russia, including disinformation and alleged vote-buying. However, Cardoso criticized the last-minute exclusion of two pro-Russian parties – Heart of Moldova and Greater Moldova – for illegal financing, arguing it “limited their right to seek effective remedy.”

Moldovan authorities defended the bans, citing hundreds of pre-election raids uncovering Russian-backed networks.

Analysts highlighted the challenges ahead. Anastasia Pociumban of the German Council on Foreign Relations noted that PAS must bridge Moldova’s divides, particularly in pro-Russian regions like Gagauzia, where Patriotic Bloc support neared 40%.

“The EU enthusiasm is real, but so is the scepticism,” she said, pointing to 7% inflation and energy costs fuelling discontent. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for “inclusive dialogue” to unify Moldova, warning that Russia’s “hybrid tactics” remain a threat.

With Reuters, edited by g.g.

Caption: A screen at the Central Electoral Commission during a press conference to announce the preliminary results in the parliamentary election in Chisinau, Moldova, 29 September 2025. The Central Electoral Commission will validate the results of the parliamentary election held on 28 September, won by the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) with more than 791,042 voters, or 50.16 percent. EPA/DUMITRU DORU