Moldova Parliamentary Elections 2025: Regional Divides and Political Stakes

The main intrigue of Moldova’s parliamentary elections on September 28 is whether the pro-European PAS of incumbent president Maia Sandu can hold onto power, or will it lose to the opposition within the Patriotic Bloc and continue the course toward the EU. According to the latest poll data, the lead remains with a slight margin, but about a third of voters are still undecided.

To better understand regional moods, we visited the main electoral zones: the central part of the country led by Chișinău, as well as the northern and southern stretches of the country, to document differences in views and expectations.

South: Comrat and Gagauzia – a pro-Russian stronghold

In Comrat, the capital of the Gagauz Autonomous region, the main street is named after Lenin, and Soviet-era sculptures still influence the moods of a portion of the youth. At the same time, the region preserves traditional ties with Russia. Pro-Russian tendencies are clearly visible here: in the previous elections, the region’s population largely supported Sandu’s opponent – Stoianoglo.

“I don’t care – Russia or the West, they all have their own interests. I believe that decisions for Moldova are made not in Moldova – but in Brussels, in the USA,” says a Comrat resident, Yuriy. “For both Russia and Europe, Moldova is a suitcase without a handle. Whoever comes to power will have to pour in large sums of money.”

Here, residents also emphasize the importance of peaceful development and stability, but domestic problems and concrete steps on the path to the EU take precedence in conversations. Undoubtedly, the EU and economic prospects are important, but citizens want real steps that reduce dependence on external centers of decision-making.

“We need Moldova’s prosperity. We were born here, our ancestors come from here. Russia is closer to us, to my generation. We have seen free education, free jobs, there was no freeloading.”

North: Edineț and Ukrainian identity

In Edineț, where a compact Ukrainian community forms a sizable portion of the population, the Ukrainian language has a significant status in the curriculum. In numerous schools, Ukrainian street names are preserved, and Ukrainian language and literature are part of the compulsory program. This is one of the key hubs of intercultural interaction in the region.

“I vote for those who want our country to live well. We are with everyone. There is no need to align with Russia or the EU – all! In Moldova there are Moldovans, Ukrainians, Bulgarians, and Gagauzians. We are many and very different. Therefore we must live in peace. And peace is the most important.”

In Edineț, a significant portion of Ukrainian education and cultural life is concentrated: at the Vasyl Sukhomlynskyi Lyceum, not only Ukrainian language but also Ukrainian literature and the history of Ukraine occupy a prominent place in the curriculum.

Chisinau: political stage with coalition possibilities

In the capital, ideas about coalitions are circulating: the opposition “Patriotic Bloc” and the pro-European PAS do not forecast an unequivocal majority. The government, most likely, will be a coalition one, with possible variants depending on votes and dynamics after Election Day.

“We have always been friends with Russia, I know from my own experience, so I am for returning what existed. We had everything – products, our own industry, and our own production, we were proud of it. I lived in Ukraine for 30 years, my husband died and I returned here.”

A representative of PAS, Oazu Nantoi, expresses his view on European integration: according to him, the European perspective for Moldova is not a pastime, but the foundation of existence. Cooperation with Ukraine, Romania, and the EU will remain a priority, but dialogue with Russia will remain possible as long as it serves national interests.

“They understand that the European perspective for Moldova is not a whim but a question of ‘to be or not to be’. If the EU tries to forbid interaction with Russia or energy resources – we will simply ask: why is the European Union doing this?”

Experts believe that the final format of the government will depend on the voting results and the ability to consolidate different political positions around a stable euro-integration, taking into account regional differences and the influence of external players.

The summary of Moldova’s election campaign underscores that real winners may be defined not only by the number of votes for a particular party but also by the ability to build consensus between the European course and regional reality, where Russia remains a close but not always welcome factor.