On September 28, 2025, Moldovans headed to the polls for what many observers, politicians, and citizens alike have called the most consequential parliamentary election in the country’s modern history. The stakes could hardly be higher: at the heart of the contest lies a stark choice between deepening integration with the European Union or a return to the sphere of Moscow’s influence. As the day unfolded, the tension was palpable—not only in the capital of Chisinau, but across the nation and its vast diaspora, with allegations of Russian interference casting a long shadow over the proceedings.
Moldova, a small landlocked country of about 2.5 million people wedged between Ukraine and EU member Romania, has spent the past several years on a determined westward path. That journey accelerated in 2022, when Moldova was granted EU candidate status soon after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Yet, as polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and prepared to close at 9 p.m., the country found itself at a crossroads, its future direction anything but certain.
The incumbent Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by pro-European President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Dorin Recean, has held a strong parliamentary majority since 2021. However, with voters weary from years of economic hardship, rampant inflation, and high poverty rates, PAS now faces stiff competition from several Russia-friendly parties. Chief among these is the Patriotic Electoral Bloc, which campaigns for “friendship with Russia” and “permanent neutrality,” as well as the populist Our Party and the Alternativa Bloc—both of which, critics argue, would pull Moldova closer to Moscow despite claims of a balanced or pro-European outlook.
Days before the vote, Prime Minister Recean issued a stark warning, telling Moldovans that Russia was spending “hundreds of millions” of euros as part of a “hybrid war” to seize power in what he described as “the final battle for our country’s future.” In his words, “I call on every Moldovan at home and across Europe: We cannot change what Russia does, but we can change what we do as a people. Turn worry into mobilization and thoughtful action… Help stop their schemes.” According to reports from AFP and AP, the government accused the Kremlin of orchestrating large-scale vote-buying operations, launching cyberattacks on government infrastructure, inciting planned mass riots, and running a sprawling disinformation campaign online—all with the aim of diminishing support for PAS and boosting pro-Moscow candidates.
Russia, for its part, has repeatedly denied all allegations, labeling them “anti-Russian” and “unsubstantiated.” Meanwhile, Moldova’s largely pro-Russian opposition accused the ruling party of planning fraud, deepening the sense of mistrust and polarization that has gripped the nation. The EU, echoing Chisinau’s concerns, described the situation as “an unprecedented campaign of disinformation” from Russia targeting Moldovan voters.
Authorities were on high alert throughout the weekend, warning of potential false bomb threats, cyberattacks, temporary power outages, and street violence by trained individuals. In an extraordinary show of force, law enforcement conducted hundreds of raids in the days leading up to the vote, detaining scores of suspects believed to be plotting disruptions. As AFP and AP reported, prosecutors described these actions as necessary to counter “electoral corruption” and “destabilization attempts.” On Friday, the electoral commission even excluded two pro-Russian parties from the race over alleged financing irregularities, a move sharply criticized by opposition leaders.
The country’s economic woes were never far from voters’ minds. Many Moldovans expressed frustration over stagnant wages, meager pensions, and skepticism about the promised benefits of EU membership. “I want higher wages and pensions... I want things to continue as they were during the Russian times,” said Vasile, a 51-year-old locksmith, to AFP at a polling station. Conversely, others saw the EU path as Moldova’s best hope. “I hope PAS wins and we go to Europe,” said Olga, a pensioner who returned from abroad to cast her ballot, echoing the chants of “We want to be in Europe” heard at PAS rallies.
President Maia Sandu did not mince words after casting her vote, warning of the “massive interference of Russia” and declaring Moldova “in danger.” She told reporters, “If Moldovans will not mobilize enough and if Russia’s interference will impact significantly our elections, then Moldova might lose everything it has won and this could be a significant risk also for other countries like Ukraine.” Her message was clear: the outcome of this election would determine whether Moldova consolidates its democracy and joins the EU, or risks being dragged back into what she called “a grey zone” by Russia.
Former president Igor Dodon, a key figure in the pro-Russian Socialist Party, offered a different vision. “We must strive to serve the interests of Moldovans... We must preserve our identity, our freedom, and our family traditions,” said Tudor Soilita, a supporter of the Patriotic Bloc, at a rally in Chisinau. Dodon himself promised to “continue discussions, negotiations with the EU, but we will also re-establish relations with the Russian Federation,” emphasizing a balanced foreign policy. He accused the West and PAS of interfering and trying to steal the vote, stating, “Moldova is ruled at the moment by a dictatorial regime which under the EU cover violates democratic norms.”
With about 20 political parties and independent candidates vying for the 101 parliamentary seats, the outcome was widely viewed as unpredictable. Analysts like Igor Botan, head of the Adept think tank, stressed that “foreign interference and threats of stirring up unrest are the most significant risks,” and that turnout would be decisive—especially among the large Moldovan diaspora, which tends to favor PAS, and in the breakaway region of Transnistria, which leans pro-Russian. In the last presidential run-off, a record 327,000 diaspora voters cast ballots, with over 82% supporting President Sandu.
Despite most local polls projecting PAS to win the most votes, they do not account for the diaspora, and about a third of voters remained undecided in the days before the election. The 2021 parliamentary election saw turnout just over 48%; experts suggested that higher participation would likely benefit PAS, but post-election negotiations to form a governing alliance appeared inevitable and uncertain.
As the polls closed and the country awaited results, one thing was certain: Moldova’s election had become a high-stakes battleground in a much larger geopolitical struggle, with the future of its democracy, economy, and international alignment hanging in the balance.