CHISINAU, Moldova – Polls opened Sunday in Moldova as citizens cast their ballots in parliamentary elections that could determine whether the country continues its pro-European Union trajectory or shifts closer to Russia’s influence.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean warned of Russian interference, alleging Moscow is spending “hundreds of millions” of euros in a “hybrid war” to seize power, describing the vote as “the final battle for our country’s future.” Russia has denied the claims of disinformation and election meddling.
Voting began at 7 a.m. local time (04:00 GMT) and will close at 9 p.m. (18:00 GMT), with results expected later in the day. The election will fill 101 parliamentary seats, after which the president nominates a prime minister, typically from the leading party or bloc, to form a new government.
Most pre-election polls place Recean’s pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), in power since 2021, ahead. However, about a third of voters remain undecided, and Moldova’s large diaspora is not fully reflected in the polling.
The pro-Russian Patriot Electoral Bloc, which includes the populist Our Party and the Alternativa Bloc, has capitalised on voter unease over economic difficulties, slow reforms, and perceived disinformation campaigns. Some parties within the bloc claim to be pro-European but are criticised for seeking closer ties with Moscow.
Moldova moved closer to the EU in recent years, gaining candidate status in 2022 shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Yet many citizens remain sceptical. Iulian Cazacu, a 26-year-old factory worker, told Reuters he might abstain, saying past elections failed to improve daily life.
President Maia Sandu described the vote as the country’s “most consequential election,” warning that its outcome will decide whether Moldova consolidates democracy and joins the EU or risks being pulled back into Russia’s sphere, creating regional instability.
Recean urged Moldovans at home and abroad to participate actively: “We cannot change what Russia does, but we can change what we do as a people. Turn worry into mobilisation and thoughtful action … Help stop their schemes.”