Political situation in Moldova

EU hails election results: “Nothing could stop you”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulates the Moldovan people after the pro-Western PAS party won the election and looks set to secure its own majority in parliament, writes AFP.

“No attempt to sow fear and division could stop your determination,” she writes on X.

She further writes that Moldova’s door to the EU is open.

Several other EU leaders also welcome the result.

“It took real courage from the Moldovan people and (President) Maia Sandu personally to win the election,” writes Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The election was described in advance as a fateful choice between East and West, and there have been numerous reports of Russian influence campaigns during the election campaign.

Analysis: EU is running out of steam – could not afford to lose

The pro-Western PAS won the Moldovan parliamentary election – but the real winner may be Brussels, writes Radio Free Europe's Rikard Jozwiak in an analysis.

From the EU's side, one can now breathe a sigh of relief that Moldova is out of reach of the Kremlin, at least for the time being, he writes.

He points out that the EU clearly showed in advance which side it supported, which is unusual when it comes to elections in member or candidate countries.

"But the fact is that the EU could not afford to lose this election," writes Jozwiak.

DN's Ingmar Nevéus writes that protests from the pro-Russian opposition are now to be expected, and that voices about alleged election fraud are already being heard.

“Several of my contacts in Moldova believe that the protests will still blow over relatively quickly. But they are aware of the risks,” he writes.

Analyst: Kremlin may disrupt government formation

Despite the fact that the pro-EU PAS party looks set to gain its own majority in Moldova’s parliament after Sunday’s elections, it may be difficult to form a functional government. This is what Andrei Curararu, an analyst at the think tank Watchdog.md, told AFP.

The election has been surrounded by reports of Russian influence operations and vote buying.

“The Kremlin has financed too large an operation to back down now,” Curararu says.

He believes that Russia may switch to inciting protests or bribing PAS members of parliament to sabotage a pro-European government.

Already on Sunday, the leader of the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc, former President Igor Dodon, called for “peaceful protests” against the election results. He also said that his party will not recognize the results and will demand new elections.

The elections in Moldova – the issue

• The parliamentary elections in Moldova on September 28, 2025 were seen as decisive for the country’s future path towards the EU or Russia.
• The election campaign was characterized by extensive Russian influence campaigns, including disinformation, rigged protests and attempts to mobilize Moldovans abroad.
• Moldovan authorities conducted over 250 house searches and arrested around a hundred people ahead of the election, linked to suspected Russian interference.
• The pro-EU ruling PAS party won the election with just over 50 percent of the vote, thus retaining its majority in parliament.
• Election day was reported to have passed peacefully according to international election observers, with a voter turnout of around 52 percent.