\n\t\t\t\t\tThe governing PAS party has claimed victory in Moldova\u2019s election, with the campaign overshadowed by raids, bans on opposition candidates, and accusations of meddling from both Russia and the EU. Moldovan authorities once again restricted access for voters from Transnistria, while Telegram\u2019s CEO accused French intelligence of censorship attempts and meddling. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Pro-EU governing Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) has claimed victory in Sunday\u2019s general election in Moldova<\/a>. With more than 96 per cent of the votes counted, PAS leads the Patriotic Bloc\u2014an election alliance often labeled as pro-Russian\u2014with 48.9 per cent against 25.02 per cent. The Alternative Bloc\u2014also accused of being pro-Russian\u2014finished third with around 8-9 per cent.<\/p>\n The election carried unusually high stakes, with both the European Union and Russia framing it as a choice between continuing the European path or turning towards a more Moscow-leaning leadership. Voter turnout stood at around 52 per cent<\/a>\u2014two points down from last year\u2019s presidential run-off won by Maia Sandu, but four points higher than in the 2021 parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n The campaign was marked by extraordinary tension. PAS, Western media, and even European leaders accused Russia of running a robust disinformation campaign. French President Emmanuel Macron, joined by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, travelled to Chi\u0219in\u0103u on 27 August, Moldova\u2019s Independence Day, to rally support for Sandu\u2019s party. Macron denounced Kremlin \u2018lies and propaganda\u2019<\/a>, while Merz pledged European support for reforms and promised to send German experts to assist Moldova on its accession path. Moscow firmly denied the accusations, charging that European leaders were interfering in the election.<\/p>\n In the run-up to the vote, Moldovan authorities conducted 250 raids on 22 September and detained more than 70<\/a> allegedly linked to a Russia-backed plan to incite \u2018mass riots\u2019 and destabilize the country. Just two days before the election, officials barred 36 candidates<\/a> of Heart of Moldova, part of the Patriotic Bloc alliance, citing illegal financing. Party leader Irina Vlah was sanctioned by several EU member states on suspicion of assisting Russian interference.<\/p>\n While accusing Moscow\u2014and all the opposition parties\u2014of hybrid warfare and disinformation, the ruling party and its European allies also \u2018played dirty\u2019 to secure the victory. Just like during the 2024 presidential election, after placing every voting station outside Transnistria\u2014the Russian-speaking breakaway region of Moldova\u2014authorities blocked<\/a> one of the main bridges linking the two territories due to an alleged \u2018threat\u2019, while several other crossings were closed for construction. People who crossed the border into Moldova to vote by car reported being subjected to lengthy searches, which caused long queues on the few remaining routes. <\/p>\n Leaders of the Patriotic Bloc announced a protest in front of the Central Electoral Commission building in Chi\u0219in\u0103u, claiming victory and demanding that no fraud be committed in the final tallying of the election results.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1759102691_260_image-4.png\"\/)
Data from the website of the Central Electoral Commission of Moldova<\/p>\n