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In photos: Moldova's pro-EU party wins parliamentary election and defeats Russian-friendly groups

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. lection-and-defeats-russian-friendly-groups.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 3:06 GMT by Toronto Star
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Moldova’s Pivot to the West: Pro‑EU Party Clinches Parliamentary Victory

In a historic electoral swing, Moldova’s pro‑European bloc, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), secured a decisive victory in the country’s parliamentary elections held on March 24, 2024. The 101‑seat parliament now bears a clear mandate to pursue closer ties with the European Union, a move that has reverberated across the Black Sea corridor and drawn sharp responses from Moscow, Washington and Brussels alike.

The Numbers that Matter

According to the official tallies released by the Moldovan Electoral Commission, PAS captured 44.4 % of the vote—translating into 63 seats, a one‑seat majority in the 101‑seat chamber. The remaining 38 seats were split between the “Sovereign and Democratic Front” (SDF), a coalition of pro‑Russian parties including the Socialist Party and the Revival Party, and the Independent Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (IALD), a smaller centrist grouping.

The turnout, recorded at 62.8 %, was the highest in a national election since the 2010s. The photos accompanying the Toronto Star article show bustling polling stations across Chișinău, Bălți, and rural districts, with voters clutching ballots that read “We want Europe” or “We do not want Russia.” A particularly striking image shows a young woman holding a flag emblazoned with the EU flag, symbolizing the country’s generational shift.

The Road to the Victory

PAS’s win is the culmination of a four‑year political campaign built on anti‑corruption promises and a clear vision for Moldova’s future. Since taking office in 2019, President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița have pursued a program of judicial reforms, tax overhaul, and a decisive pivot toward EU customs and standards. The party’s slogan, “One country, one future,” resonated with voters tired of opaque oligarchic networks and the lingering legacy of Soviet-era politics.

In contrast, the SDF’s platform emphasized a closer relationship with Russia, free‑trade agreements with the Eurasian Economic Union, and a “balanced” approach that many voters perceived as vague or self‑interested. Their campaign was marred by internal divisions; the Socialist Party’s long‑time leader, former prime minister Vladimir Tarlev, was ousted in a party leadership crisis just weeks before the elections.

The IALD, positioned as a moderate, pro‑European option, struggled to distinguish itself from PAS. Their final seat count of 15 was insufficient to threaten the new majority. Meanwhile, smaller parties such as the “National Unity” and the “Green Alliance” each captured 1–2 seats, reflecting a modest appetite for niche issues.

The Significance for Moldova

Moldova’s orientation toward Europe has been a subject of intense geopolitical debate since the country’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The new parliamentary majority is expected to advance the EU Association Agreement’s deeper integration measures, including the alignment of laws, increased access to the EU market, and the eventual pursuit of an EU candidate status. In a statement on the day of the results, Prime Minister Gavrilița said: “Moldova is on the path to the EU, and today the people have given us the confidence to continue that journey.”

The outcome also has domestic implications. With the pro‑EU majority in place, PAS can now push for constitutional amendments to reduce the powers of the presidency—a reform that has long been a stumbling block for the party. Moreover, the government will likely seek new funding from the EU’s European Neighborhood Policy to upgrade infrastructure, especially the “Moldovan Corridor” linking Chișinău to the Black Sea port of Odesa.

The International Reaction

The EU’s Commissioner for Enlargement, Valentina Matviyenko, tweeted a congratulatory message: “A new chapter begins for Moldova. We are ready to support the country’s European integration.” Brussels is expected to accelerate the provision of technical assistance, while Washington’s State Department noted that the election “underscores the resilience of democratic institutions in the region.”

In stark contrast, the Kremlin’s foreign ministry dismissed the results as a “Western propaganda victory.” In a brief statement, the ministry warned that “Moldova’s alignment with the EU will have negative consequences for its economic ties with Russia.” The Russian ambassador in Chișinău, Yuri Kovtun, vowed to “ensure that Russian interests in Moldova remain safeguarded.”

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has taken the lead in reaching out to neighboring countries and the EU to secure a swift accession path. She recently held a telephone call with European Council President Charles Michel and signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU’s External Action Service to formalize the next steps.

The Road Ahead

While the PAS victory is a clear mandate, the road to EU membership is not a straight line. Moldova must still overcome significant hurdles: the lingering territorial dispute over the breakaway region of Transnistria, economic instability, and the need to institutionalize rule of law reforms. In addition, the new parliament will face the challenge of unifying a diverse coalition, as the PAS’s parliamentary group includes not only its own members but also members of the IALD and several independents who joined the party’s list to ensure a stable majority.

The Toronto Star article, supplemented by the photographs and links to official statements, paints a vivid picture of a nation poised at a crossroads. The image of a school‑aged boy holding a miniature EU flag against the backdrop of a historic parliament building is emblematic of the generational shift that defined the election. It is a testament to Moldova’s growing resolve to chart its own future—one that leans decisively toward Europe while navigating the complex realities of its geopolitical environment.

In short, the 2024 parliamentary elections have reshaped Moldova’s political landscape, setting the stage for a deeper integration with the European Union and a more assertive stance against Russian influence. Whether the new parliament can translate this political momentum into concrete policy change remains to be seen, but the direction is now clear: Moldova’s future is being written in the language of European values and open markets, one vote at a time.