Moldova pro-EU party nears majority in election

With 99% of the votes counted, the party of action and solidarity (PAS) had 49.99%, compared to the patriotic bloc, which finished with 24.28%. This would give PAS a clear possibility of achieving a majority in the 101 member chamber and also the responsibility of the government without an inherently unstable coalition.

Election Results and Political Significance
In addition to the two main contenders, other parties had also garnered enough support to enter parliament. The alternative bloc, a party also leaning towards a pro-European agenda, took between 8% of the vote, and the populist Our Party won approximately 6.2% of the votes. The official count was expected later in the day on Monday.

To PAS and its supporters, the results of the election matter significantly. A majority could enhance Moldova's medium to long term European Union aspirations, which will require years of legislative action and change. The election was characterized by leaders of the party and/or their supporters as the most significant election since independence, which may well be true in decisively shaping Moldova's future historic direction.

The election season had tensions and challenges
The campaign had tension to an apparently unprecedented level, with both sides alleging wrongdoing and cheating. Russia's government was charged with attempting to influence the vote, disinformation, immigration, cyber-attacks and even bomb threats to polling stations in Moldova, and abroad, although Russia denied the allegations.

In the context of the election, on Saturday and even before the polls closed, Igor Dodon one of the co-leaders of the patriotic Bloc, a former president, had alleged that Maia Sandu may have attempted to tamper with the vote. Dodon called on his supporters to protest in front of parliament, on the day after the election, without providing any evidence to support his claims. Parties (the government) stated they were monitoring events to see whether any protests were planned.

Moldova is caught simultaneously between the east and the west, in ways that are simply too familiar. Moldova, as a former Soviet Republic with a population of 2.4 million, is caught between European integration and Russian influence. Furthermore, neighbouring Ukraine and rising energy prices have led to rising inflation of around 7%, all while putting pressure on the government.

For their part, the opposition parties attempted to take advantage of public frustration over the rising costs of many essentials and the slow pace of reforms. However, the solid PAS result indicates that many Moldovans do indeed agree with closer ties to the EU as a messaging framework, as that of PAS.