Pro-EU ruling party wins again in Moldova

According to unofficial results, the ruling 'Party of Action and Solidarity' (PAS) won the parliamentary elections held on Sunday, September 28, in the Eastern European country of the Republic of Moldova. The pro-European Union (EU) Party of Action and Solidarity, founded by President Maia Sandu, received 50 percent of the vote and secured a parliamentary majority (appearing to have won 24 seats). The party will govern the country for another 4 years. (In the previous elections, PAS received 52.8 percent of the vote and held 61 seats.) Votes from abroad were particularly decisive in the election results. (PAS received 44.1 percent of the vote within the country.)

The opposition 'Patriotic Bloc,' known for being anti-EU and anti-NATO and pro-Russian, received 24.2 percent of the vote and came in second.

Three political parties that passed the 5 percent election threshold qualified to enter parliament: the 'Alternativa Bloc' with 7.9 percent, 'Our Party' with 6.2 percent, and the 'Party of Democracy at Home' with 5.6 percent. Other blocs and parties that remained below the threshold were left out of the 101-seat parliament.

The voter turnout for the elections, which saw various objections and reports of rights violations and irregularities by international observers, was 52.2 percent.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Moldova, with a population of approximately 2 million 600 thousand, entered the elections under a tense political atmosphere. The government argued that Russia resorted to various manipulations and attempted to interfere in the election. The opposition, on the other hand, claimed that they were subjected to intense pressure from the government.

Among the notable events were the banning of two prominent opposition parties, "Great Moldova" and the "Heart of Moldova Party" led by former Gagauzia Governor Irina Vlah, two days before the elections. Evgenia Gutsul, the elected Governor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, was also recently sentenced to 7 years in prison on charges of receiving money from Russia.

It was reported that various violations occurred on election day as well. It was stated that most people could not vote in Transnistria, which is located between Moldova and Ukraine and has declared its independence unilaterally (de facto status). It was noted that only 12 ballot boxes, which were under government control and mostly moved to internal regions before election day, were set up in the region, and the bridge connecting the region to Moldova was closed for maintenance on election day.

In Russia, where tens of thousands of Moldovans live, it was stated that only 2 of the more than 300 overseas polling stations were opened. It was expressed that most people could not vote due to insufficient ballot boxes and long queues.

Various statements were made by leaders after the elections. Igor Grosu, leader of the ruling PAS, claimed that Russia interfered in the election process and said, "There were issues such as transporting voters to the polls by car, stealing votes, bomb threats, and attempts to destabilize the situation."

Igor Dodon, former President of Moldova and leader of the PSRM (Party of Socialists) which is part of the 'Patriotic Bloc,' said, "There are violations in the election. We will analyze them. We will not recognize the result of the election until the Central Election Commission examines our complaints. If our complaints are rejected, we will apply to the court."

AND THEN...

The Republic of Moldova is important for the EU and NATO, and serves as a forward defense axis for Russia in the west...

The country, which is not militarily strong and is economically insufficient, is struggling with problems regarding economic and political stability. The people living in the country have many demands such as social welfare, the fight against corruption, and the acceleration of economic reforms...

The polls were visited amidst this picture. Moldova experienced one of its most critical elections since it declared its independence on August 27, 1991.

This small former Soviet country, located between Ukraine and Romania, seems to have decided to continue its march along the Western Bloc line. We will all see together how this goal of Moldova, which gained candidate membership status to the EU in 2022, will progress and whether economic, social, and political stability can be achieved in the country.