The ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) has won 44 percent of the vote so far in parliamentary elections held today, compared to 28 percent for the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc.
These are the results announced by the Central Election Commission of Moldova after 70 percent of the votes were counted.
These parliamentary elections could affect Chisinau's bid to join the European Union. The pro-European government and the pro-Russian opposition accused each other of irregularities just hours before the polls closed.
Mutual accusations marked the period leading up to the vote, which President Maja Sandu described as an existential moment for the small Eastern European country oscillating between European and Russian influence.
The ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) is struggling to hold on to its majority, while the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc is seeking to seize power and steer the country away from closer ties with Brussels, Reuters reports.
Government officials have warned of attempts to disrupt the election, including cyberattacks on election infrastructure and false bomb threats throughout the day at polling stations in Moldova and abroad.
Moldova's large diaspora, which largely supports European integration, could play a significant role in the outcome of the election. Votes began to be counted after the polls closed at 21 p.m. local time.
If PAS loses its 101-seat parliamentary majority, Moldova faces additional political uncertainty, as it already faces the fallout from the war in neighboring Ukraine, accusations of Russian interference, and a weak economy.
An atmosphere of calm prevailed throughout Sunday as citizens voted and went about their daily business in the quiet streets of central Chisinau and in towns outside the capital.
Accusations and counter-accusations
Stanislav Sekrijeru, Sandu's national security adviser, said officials expect a "further escalation" of cyberattacks on the Central Election Commission and other state websites, which have been launched from multiple countries.
False bomb threats have reached polling stations in Rome, Brussels and the United States, he wrote on the X network, describing them as a sign of "massive pressure from Russia and its proxies" to disrupt the elections.
Moscow denies involvement and claims the government is spreading anti-Russian hysteria to win votes.
On Sunday, Patriotic Bloc co-chair Igor Dodon, a former president, called for protests outside parliament on Monday, claiming that Sandu was planning to annul the election. He did not provide evidence for the claim, Reuters reports.
Sandu and other senior officials, who want Chisinau to join the EU by 2030, have long warned of a widespread Russian campaign aimed at influencing the election.
Earlier this week, election officials banned two pro-Russian parties from participating over allegations of illegal funding.
Authorities have launched hundreds of raids in recent weeks targeting illegal party financing and alleged Russian-backed networks aimed at causing unrest during the elections.
Economic hardship and nostalgia for the past
Opposition groups like the Patriotic Bloc have relied on voter dissatisfaction with economic hardship and the slow pace of reforms, and authorities claim that these weaknesses have been further exacerbated by the spread of disinformation.
Inflation remains high, around 7 percent, while Moldovans suffer higher costs for imported energy, Reuters writes.
If PAS loses its majority, it will be forced to seek coalition partners among its opponents, such as the center-left Alternative bloc or the populist Our Party, if they pass the threshold to enter parliament.
Viorica Burlaku, a fruit seller in Chisinau, said the war in Ukraine shows how Moldova needs European protection.
"We are afraid of war, no one wants it," said the 46-year-old. "That's why we are turning to Europe, at least for some protection."
In Balchik, a northern Moldovan town, 82-year-old Maria Scutari offered a different perspective. She recalled being happy as a young student living in the Soviet Union.
"What was wrong with that? That's how life went. I was a student, everything was fine, everything was great."
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