Moldova Parliamentary Elections 2025: PAS Victory Amid Russian Interference Concerns

According to Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission, after processing 99.21% of the protocols, the ruling pro-European party “Action and Solidarity” (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, has won the parliamentary elections. It is securing 49.91% of the votes.

In second place is the opposition “Patriotic Electoral Bloc,” one of its leaders being former President Igor Dodon, who advocates closer ties with Russia. This bloc received 23.33% of the votes.

Also entering Parliament are: the pro-European party bloc “Alternative” with 8.01%; “Our Party” led by Renato Usatî – 6.23%; the “Democracy at Home” party – 5.64%.

Prospects for forming a coalition and external influence

In the new Parliament, forces oriented toward the country’s European course will have the upper hand, but forming a majority will depend on coalition agreements among various political players.

How Russia attempts to influence the elections is evidenced by statements from senior officials and media materials. On July 30, Moldova’s president Maia Sandu said that Russia is preparing for an “unprecedented interference” in the country’s parliamentary elections. According to Sandu, Russia is already investing in several political tools to “promote its people into the parliament” and thereby undermine democratic processes.

As noted, there are at least a dozen interference tools that Moscow could use against Moldova. The president’s national security adviser stressed that Moscow is intensifying efforts to influence Moldovan citizens abroad with the aim of interfering in the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28, 2025. Particular attention has been paid to the Matryoshka network, supported by the Kremlin, which creates fake media and spreads false messages.

On August 15, Sandu stressed that Moldova’s diaspora is under unprecedented pressure from hostile forces ahead of the parliamentary elections. The president urged citizens abroad to be vigilant, united, and to defend sovereignty, democracy, freedom, and the European choice.

On September 14, Sandu reported that Moscow had intensified online disinformation campaigns, including against the Moldovan diaspora. She also noted the use of Orthodox priests to spread propaganda and the launch of the Matryoshka bot network to create fake content under the guise of legitimate foreign media.

In summary, the country is preparing for the elections with heightened attention to foreign policy influences and the internal consolidation of trusted advisers who support Moldova’s European course.