Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) has secured a new parliamentary majority in Sunday’s elections, according to preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission (CEC).
With 99% of ballots counted, PAS won 50% of the vote, translating to around 55 seats in the 101-seat parliament. Turnout was reported at over 52%, with more than 1.6 million citizens casting ballots. The pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc, led by former President Igor Dodon, came in second with 24%, while the Alternative bloc of Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban received 7%. Despite the outcome, Dodon called on the opposition to protest outside parliament, accusing Sandu of plotting to annul the results, though he provided no evidence.
The elections were overshadowed by allegations of interference. Moldova’s Foreign Ministry reported bomb threats targeting polling stations abroad, which it described as part of Russia’s “assault on the electoral process.” At the same time, Moldova’s Information Technology & Cyber Security Service (STISC) confirmed multiple cyberattacks on electoral infrastructure, including the CEC’s website.
Sandu has repeatedly warned of Russian meddling, claiming in July that Moscow was “investing in multiple political vehicles” to sway the vote. Russia has denied the accusations, countering that Moldovan authorities are “dividing citizens” by restricting polling stations in Russia while expanding them across Europe. Moscow also accused the EU and NATO of seeking to “occupy Moldova” and pressure Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist region that has remained outside Chisinau’s control since the early 1990s.
This election, described by Sandu as the “most consequential” since Moldova’s independence in 1991, will define the country’s geopolitical path. Since 2021, Sandu and PAS have steered Moldova closer to Brussels, securing EU candidate status in 2022, launching accession talks in June 2024, and passing a referendum later that year that enshrined EU membership into the constitution.
