DUMITRU DORU/EPA
PAS Party supporters participate in a march to support the voting process in the parliamentary elections in the center of Chisinau, Moldova.
PAS remains in power with 50.03% of the votes. Kremlin could “resort to demonstrations, corruption of PAS deputies and other tactics to disturb the formation of a stable pro-European government”, warns analyst.
The pro-European party NOTby President Maia Sandu, won the legislative elections in the Moldova with More than 50% of the votesand should maintain the absolute majority in Parliament, according to official results after the count of 99.52% of the votes.
The Action and Truth Party (PAS), in power since 2021, has obtained 50.03% of votesahead of the Pro-Russian patriotic block, with 24.26% of the scrutinated votes, according to the results published by the Central Electoral Commission on its internet portal. According to the projections, the PAS can keep the absolute majority in Parliament, with 55 of the 101 seats. In the previous legislature, he had 63 seats.
The party is Ahead of the Patriotic Block, Pro-Russia, which obtained 24.26% of the votes And whose leader, former President Igor Dodon (2016-2020), claimed the victory and called on Monday a demonstration in the capital, Chisinaau.
Third, with 7.99%, is the national (MAS) alternative movement of the mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, who appealed to the vote against PAS.
“The people of Moldova have spoken and their message is clear and unambiguous. In the face of pressure and interference from Russia, they opted for democracy, reform and a European future,” European Council, António Costa, in reaction to the results, in X.
Moldova “made her choice clear: Europe, democracy, freedom,” in turn the president of the European Commission. Von Von der Leyen.
There were bomb threats. Kremlin must react
The reflection group analyst Watchdog, Andrei Curararu, considered that the Kremlin may “resort to demonstrations, corruption of PAS deputies and other tactics to disturb the formation of a stable pro-European government. ”
According to the Moldova Moldpress news agency, more than 1.6 million people voted, which puts participation rate in more than 52%that is, about 4% above the influx to the ballot boxes verified in the early parliamentary elections of 2021.
The day was normal, although the Mission of Observation of the NGO MOLDAVA PROMOTEX has recorded about 200 incidentsincluding the presence of propaganda material within voting assemblies, violation of vote secrecy and incorrect location of voting booths, violations of the electoral process, which occurred in both molding locations and centers designated in Germany, Italy, Romania, United States or Greece.
The organization also documented pump threats In ten centers, which caused voters withdrawal, although, thanks to the intervention of the authorities, the vote was later resumed.
Europe Culpa Kremlin-and vice-Versa
These elections are crucial to the future in the medium term of the small nation with European aspirations, located in a regional context marked by and unprecedented attempts of Moscow interference, although not exclusive, in recent years.
The molding authorities have long denounced that financing the purchase of votes and disinformation campaigns on social networks, but also with disturbances and cybers.
Since August 1, the Moldava police have conducted more than 600 searches related to attempted destabilization, according to the government, and dozens of people were arrested.
Moldova’s cybersecurity service reported Monday that he detected several attempts to attack electoral infrastructure“Neutralized in real time, without affecting the availability or integrity of electoral services.”
Moscow any form of interference. Russia’s foreign information service has, moreover, an opposite version: last Tuesday, He accused Europe of “preparing to occupy Moldova”Addressing that NATO units are currently “gathering in Romania, near the borders of Moldova.”
After voting in Chisinau this Sunday, President Maia Sandu warned “Massive interference from Russia”stating to journalists that his country, neighboring Ukraine, was “in danger.”
With 2.4 million inhabitants, the Moldova has faced several crises from the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022, endangering the pro-European government of Chisinaau, which considers adherence to the European bloc to break free from Moscow’s sphere of influence.
About twenty parties and independent candidates ran for elections to fill 101 seats in Parliament. In 2021, PAS won with 52.8% of the votes against 27.2% of the socialists and communist bloc.
