Moldovans Cast Votes in Pivotal Election for EU Membership

CHIȘINĂU, Moldova — Moldovans participated in a significant parliamentary election on Sunday that has the potential to shape the nation’s trajectory toward European Union membership. As voters cast their ballots, concerns escalated regarding interference from Russia, with reports of disinformation campaigns and attempts to sway the election process.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) is currently counting the votes, with initial results expected to be released throughout the night. Full verification of the outcome will occur after watchdogs and international observers present their findings on Monday morning. The pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) aims to retain its majority in the national parliament, where it has held 61 of the 101 seats since 2021. The party has promised to advance Moldova’s EU aspirations within five years.

In contrast, the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP) and the less transparent Alternativa opposition bloc are seen as contenders who could benefit from Moscow’s disinformation tactics. Moldovan National Security Adviser Stanislav Secrieru remarked, “Russia is pulling out all the stops to tip this election.” He noted an increase in financial resources for vote-buying, sophisticated AI-driven disinformation, and organized street violence.

The initial vote counts are coming from smaller towns and villages, while ballots from larger urban areas and overseas polling stations will be processed later. The CEC plans to release preliminary results at 21:30 local time (20:30 Brussels), with updates continuing into the night as results from bigger cities and expatriate votes roll in.

On election day, several bomb threats disrupted polling stations abroad, including an incident that led to the evacuation of Moldova’s embassy in Brussels. Secrieru mentioned online that police received intelligence about groups intending to incite unrest in Chișinău, coinciding with a protest scheduled by the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc.

This election follows last year’s referendum on EU membership, which narrowly passed, and the re-election of liberal President Maia Sandu. Both events were reportedly influenced by the votes of the substantial Moldovan diaspora, many of whom reside in EU countries. Dorina Baltag, a researcher at the Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs and co-founder of the diaspora group Noroc Olanda, emphasized the critical role of these votes, stating they hold significance both numerically and symbolically.

“The diaspora has consolidated itself as one of the most consistent pro-European constituencies,” Baltag noted. However, the diaspora also faces challenges, including coordinated efforts to manipulate their voting behavior or discourage participation. Reports have identified over 900 accounts involved in spreading AI-generated disinformation linked to Russia.

Siegfried Mureșan, a Romanian Member of the European Parliament and chair of the European Parliament’s delegation to Moldova, remarked, “This is the last chance for Russia to affect Moldova’s EU integration path. Russia knows it, which is why they are so heavily invested there.”

As the situation develops, all eyes are on Moldova to see how the election will influence its future and the growing pressures from external forces.