The preliminary results of the parliamentary elections held in Moldova on September 28 have been announced.
Modern.az reports that the Action and Solidarity Party, led by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, emerged victorious from the elections, securing 49.99 percent of the votes.
According to the Central Election Commission's statement, 99.47 percent of the ballots have already been counted, and voter turnout was 52 percent.
In the new parliament, alongside Sandu's party, the opposition Patriots' Bloc, the Alternative Bloc, as well as “Democracy at Home” led by Vasile Costiuc and “Our Party” led by Renato Usatîi will be represented.
The Patriots' Bloc secured second place, winning 24.28 percent of the votes. This bloc is primarily composed of former presidents Igor Dodon's Socialist Party and Vladimir Voronin's Communist Party. They are also joined by the “Heart of Moldova” party of former Gagauz leader Irina Vlah and the “Future of Moldova” party of former Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev. The election campaign of these leaders, known for their political experience and close ties with Moscow, strengthened the possibility of Moldova reorienting towards Russia.
Sandu's party, on the other hand, declared European integration a priority, serving as the main destination for pro-Western voters. PAS, established in 2016, quickly became the country's strongest political force. Moldovans living abroad, in particular, play a decisive role in this party's victory. The diaspora's votes, as in previous presidential and referendum elections, once again strengthened the position of the ruling power.
During the election campaign, the open support for Sandu from the European Union and major powers did not go unnoticed. The EU allocated 1.9 billion euros to Moldova for the next two years, while the US invested hundreds of millions of dollars in energy security projects. The visits of European leaders to Chișinău, the Moldova-EU summit, and the Romanian president's announcement of a concrete date for membership further increased the significance of the elections.
In the national security strategy adopted by the Moldovan parliament last year, Russia was officially designated as the main threat for the first time. Had the pro-Russian bloc won the elections, the country's foreign policy course could have changed, and the EU integration process could have been halted. This would have created new threats for both Ukraine and Europe as a whole. Especially considering the Russian military contingent in the Transnistrian region, the possibility of Moldova becoming a springboard was real.
Experts say that the West currently appears to have won in Moldova, but the Russian threat has not subsided...
Elnur Amirov
