The pro-European party of Moldovan President Maia Sandu has claimed victory and a new majority in parliament in Sunday's elections seen as critical for her country's future path to the EU.
Sandu had warned of massive Russian interference after voting, saying the future of Moldova, flanked by Ukraine and Romania, was at stake.
Igor Grosu, the leader of Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) which secured about 50% of the vote, said Russia had thrown everything it had at the election.
Opposition leader Igor Dodon had claimed victory even before results came in and called for protests outside parliament in the capital Chisinau on Monday.
However, the win by PAS is emphatic: Monday's protest was tiny and mostly attended by pensioners. With 99.9% of the 1.6 million votes counted, PAS had 50.17%, far ahead of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc on 24.18%. Turnout was 52%, higher than in recent years.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the result. You made your choice clear: Europe. Democracy. Freedom, she wrote. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised Sandu, stating she had saved democracy and stopped Russia in its attempts to take control over the whole region. A good lesson for us all.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked, These elections showed that Russia's destabilising activity loses, while Moldova in Europe wins. In Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said many Moldovans were deprived of the chance to vote in Russia due to limited polling stations.
The recent Moldovan votes have been closely contested, but soon after polls closed, it became clear that Sandu's party was set to reclaim a majority in the 101-seat parliament. Earlier, Sandu’s party won 52.8% of the vote four years ago.
On election day, bomb scares were reported in polling stations across several nations, and accusations of criminal activities aimed at undermining the electoral process emerged.
Moldova, which has faced the crisis brought on by Russia's war in Ukraine, received EU candidate status alongside Ukraine in 2022, enhancing the urgency of re-establishing its European orientation.
Sandu emphasized the importance of voter participation and reminded Moldovans that their democracy's future lay in their hands: Don't play with your vote or you'll lose everything!\
Sandu had warned of massive Russian interference after voting, saying the future of Moldova, flanked by Ukraine and Romania, was at stake.
Igor Grosu, the leader of Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) which secured about 50% of the vote, said Russia had thrown everything it had at the election.
Opposition leader Igor Dodon had claimed victory even before results came in and called for protests outside parliament in the capital Chisinau on Monday.
However, the win by PAS is emphatic: Monday's protest was tiny and mostly attended by pensioners. With 99.9% of the 1.6 million votes counted, PAS had 50.17%, far ahead of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc on 24.18%. Turnout was 52%, higher than in recent years.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the result. You made your choice clear: Europe. Democracy. Freedom, she wrote. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised Sandu, stating she had saved democracy and stopped Russia in its attempts to take control over the whole region. A good lesson for us all.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked, These elections showed that Russia's destabilising activity loses, while Moldova in Europe wins. In Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said many Moldovans were deprived of the chance to vote in Russia due to limited polling stations.
The recent Moldovan votes have been closely contested, but soon after polls closed, it became clear that Sandu's party was set to reclaim a majority in the 101-seat parliament. Earlier, Sandu’s party won 52.8% of the vote four years ago.
On election day, bomb scares were reported in polling stations across several nations, and accusations of criminal activities aimed at undermining the electoral process emerged.
Moldova, which has faced the crisis brought on by Russia's war in Ukraine, received EU candidate status alongside Ukraine in 2022, enhancing the urgency of re-establishing its European orientation.
Sandu emphasized the importance of voter participation and reminded Moldovans that their democracy's future lay in their hands: Don't play with your vote or you'll lose everything!\
