Preliminary results from Moldova’s parliamentary elections show the pro-European PAS party leading with 44.48% of the vote.
Election overview
On Sunday, September 28, Moldova held parliamentary elections, with preliminary results from the first half of polling stations showing the pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) leading with 44.48% of the votes. The pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc of Communists (BEP) secured 27.78% of the votes. The voter turnout at the time of polling station closure was 51.9%. Adam Eberhardt, former director of the East Center, estimated that based on vote counts from over 70% of polling stations, the pro-European PAS is likely to maintain a parliamentary majority.
Significance of the elections
Many observers consider these elections the most crucial in Moldova’s 32-year history, as they will determine whether the country aligns with Moscow or the European Union. The ruling PAS, led by President Maia Sandu, faces criticism for economic stagnation, while the opposition bloc, comprising socialists, communists, and pro-Russian groups, promises cheaper Russian gas and neutrality, which is constitutionally mandated.
Polling predictions
Polls suggest that two or three parties could enter parliament, with PAS consistently leading and BEP in second place. The Alternative Bloc, including figures like Kishinev Mayor Ioan Ceban and former Prime Minister Ion Chicu, also has a chance, though experts remain skeptical of its pro-European claims due to past ties with Russia. Renato Usatii’s Nasza Partia, labeled as populist with pro-Russian leanings, is another contender. Moldova’s parliament has 101 seats, and polls indicate a significant portion of undecided voters, excluding the diaspora, which accounts for over 20% of the vote.
