It seems that Moscow’s main accomplishment in launching their illegal war of territorial aggression in Ukraine is to unite just about all of Europe against it. Now Moldova, another European country that has occupying Russian forces in it, has again voted decisively for the EU and against Moscow.
The pro-European party of Moldovan President Maia Sandu has claimed victory and a new majority in parliament in Sunday’s elections seen as critical for her country’s future path to the EU.
Sandu had warned of “massive Russian interference” after voting, saying the future of Moldova, flanked by Ukraine and Romania, was at stake.
Igor Grosu, the leader of Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) which secured about 50% of the vote, said Russia had thrown “everything it had” at the election.
Opposition leader Igor Dodon had claimed victory even before results came in and called for protests outside parliament in the capital Chisinau on Monday.
However, the win by PAS is emphatic: Monday’s protest was tiny and mostly attended by pensioners. And there is no sense at this point that they have any momentum.
With 99.9% of the 1.6 million votes counted, PAS had 50.17% of the vote – far ahead of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc on 24.18%, Moldova’s central electoral commission said.
Turnout was 52%, higher than in recent years.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the result. “You made your choice clear: Europe. Democracy. Freedom,” she wrote on X on Monday.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised Sandu, saying she had “saved democracy” and “stopped Russia in its attempts to take control over the whole region. A good lesson for us all”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on social media: “These elections showed that Russia’s destabilising activity loses, while Moldova in Europe wins.”
Snip.
To form a government it will not need to rely on support from other parties, such as the Alternativa bloc or the populist Our Party.
In a measure of the tension surrounding the vote, bomb scares were reported at polling stations in Italy, Romania, Spain and the US.
Similar scares were reported in Moldova itself and three people were arrested on suspicion of plotting unrest the day after the vote. Grosu blamed criminal groups backed by Moscow for Sunday’s incidents and appealed for “patience and calm” to let the electoral process continue.
Moldova also has a pro-Russian breakaway enclave called Transnistria along its border with Ukraine, complete with a Russian military presence.
Residents in this sliver of land have Moldovan passports. Many are strongly pro-Moscow and Socialist party leader Igor Dodon said there had been “all sorts of harassment, stopping them from voting”.
Russia’s inability to achieve victory in its invasion of Ukraine may endanger its tiny puppet state in Moldova. The EU has previously been slow-rolling Moldova’s membership request for fear of angering Moscow, but the marked failure of Moscow to conquer Ukraine, and Vladimir Putin’s insistence on serial provocations to NATO members may have changed their thinking. A serious push by a modern military could likely roll up Transnistria in a matter of days, and there’s very little an overextended Russian military could do about it.
And there’s always the long-running possibility that Romania (a NATO member) and Moldova could merge. Normally NATO wouldn’t allow a country with a territorial dispute in, but, again, Putin’s many provocations may get that particular hesitation tossed to the wayside.
Russia’s weakness plus Putin managing to piss off both the EU and Trump may finally earn the greenlight to do away with this particular vestigial remains of Putin’s shattered dreams for a Greater Russia…
Tags: 2025 Elections, Chisinau, EU, Foreign Policy, Igor Dodon, Igor Grosu, Maia Sandu, NATO, Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), Russia, Russo-Ukrainian War, Transnistria, Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky
One of the things I noted when Ukraine repulsed the Russians in 2022 is that the Transnistrian separatists’ fate hangs in the balance. If Ukraine wins, they are all gonna die. But I suppose that analysis can now work in reverse: one way to judge competing claims of success in the Russia/Ukraine conflict is to use Transnistria as a barometer.
Two of the four parties within the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP)l, Heart of Moldova and Moldova Mare, were banned from participating in the election. Heart of Moldova and Moldova Mare were accused of receiving illicit funding from Russia. No evidence of such funding was ever offered to justify their disqualification.
The winning Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) was openly funded by the EU and Soros. And PAS only achieved 50% + 1 through “diaspora votes”. The same overseas voter scam developed by Obama’s campaigns. You remember Harris’ “Overseas Coordinator”?
Moldova was a reprise of the election rigging scam which the EU and Soros executed in neighboring Romania six months ago. Romania’s electoral bureau (BEC) invalidated anti-EU frontrunner Calin Georgescu’s Presidential candidacy due to his “failure to comply with the electoral regulations.” It was an entirely bogus charge.
Election fraud is how you wind up with civil wars.
Now you need to answer Sundance’s issues. Sandu banned some political parties from the election. And the inclusion of many Moldovans who live outside of Moldavia is problematic. Plus, you make no mention of Transnistria. What I see is an attempt in the EU to entangle the US into another quagmire.
“…And the inclusion of many Moldovans who live outside of Moldavia is problematic. Plus, you make no mention of Transnistria….”
Only 5% of Moldovans living in Transnistria were allowed to vote. On election day, the bridge across the Dnister River (which links Transnistria with Moldova) was closed during the entire voting period due to an “anonymous” bomb threat.
More than 20% of the total votes were cast from foreign voting places. Almost all those foreign votes were cast for the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS).
Even Satan himself – Putin – wouldn’t attempt this level of election rigging.
“Election fraud is how you wind up with civil wars.”
..and we know which side Comrade Cartridge would defend.
The object of this line of argument is to diminish the legitimacy of this election and undercut support for the pro-European party of Moldovan President Maia Sandu. If she can be successfully attacked and smeared for being the illegitimate leader of an authoritarian state, Western allies will be pressured to withdraw their support. This is a favored tactic of Ukraine haters.
Think of Maia Sandu as being the political equivalent of Iryna Zarutska and Putin as her would-be executioner.
executioner.
“Now you need to answer Sundance’s issues.”
Sundance ‘s “issues” require the intervention of a licensed psychotherapist. This lies outside the area of competence that this blog represents.
“Plus, you make no mention of Transnistria..”
Reading comprehension test: ” A serious push by a modern military could likely roll up Transnistria in a matter of days.”
“The object of this line of argument is to diminish the legitimacy of this election and undercut support for the pro-European party of Moldovan President Maia Sandu. If she can be successfully attacked and smeared for being the illegitimate leader of an authoritarian state, Western allies will be pressured to withdraw their support. This is a favored tactic of Ukraine haters.”
I knew you would fawn over the Moldova Nazis.
Your “legitimate leader” Maia Sandu just sentenced a deputy of the Moldovan parliament from the opposition bloc “Victory”, Marina Tauber, to 7.5 years in prison today on bogus charges. Deputy Tauber was held in pretrial detention for weeks to keep her from contesting the election of your preferred Nazi.
This comes on the heels of your favorite Moldovan Nazi sentencing the opposition Governor of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, to 7 years in prison on bogus charges to keep her from leading opposition to Sandu and her EU/Soros puppet masters.
Quite the democracy you endorse. Roland Freisler smiles up on you from hell.
“I knew you would fawn over the Moldova Nazis.”
As I knew you would LARP as the dedicated UkroNazi nemesis.
“Deputy Tauber was held in pretrial detention for weeks…”
Wait! Is this the woman who is on the EU and US sanctions lists and has received the Russian Order of Friendship from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin–the Bolshevixen who proudly marched in Red Square where she laid flowers at the grave of the unknown soldier to show her solidarity with Stalin?
…THAT Marina Tauber?!
“Quite the democracy you endorse. Roland Freisler smiles up on you from hell.”
So the democratically elected pro-European candidate is a Nazi simp but the minority pro-Putin faction are the revolutionary liberators of an oppressed and enslaved populace who earnestly desire the Kremlin’s embrace??
That has a vaguely familiar ring to it. Please remind me where I heard it endlessly repeated.
Pretty sure we cannot trust any reports from Moldova, Russia or Ukraine.
Was the US 2020 election fraudulent?
After we get a clear answer on that, let’s do a deep dive into Moldova.
Sorry if I seem cynical about this, but how the hell can we know if it was rigged?
BBC reports? RT reports?
We thought the internet would make truth easier to find out, but all it did was raise the noise so much the signal doesn’t get through.
“Wait! Is this the woman who is on the EU and US sanctions lists and has received the Russian Order of Friendship from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin–the Bolshevixen who proudly marched in Red Square where she laid flowers at the grave of the unknown soldier to show her solidarity with Stalin?”
In case you missed it, there is no declared state of war between Moldova and Russia. Marina Tauber should be allowed to express herself without being imprisoned by your beloved Moldovan Nazis. She is, furthermore, an elected Deputy in the Moldovan parliament representing a constituency who voted for her and shares her views. Only Nazi wannabes like you imprison people for their personal beliefs, beliefs shared with their constituencies. You have the raw gall to claim to be a democrat. You are a totalitarian to your core.
Your support for Sandu belies your “pro democracy” BS. You no more believe in democracy than the Ukrainians. The Ukrainian Nazis tried to imprison theirelected Rada Deputy Mariana Bezuglaya, but she evaded their head hunters.
“That has a vaguely familiar ring to it. Please remind me where I heard it endlessly repeated.”
This is the same evil lawfare your hero Droolin’ Joe applied to President Trump and his inner circle. Do you remember the prosecution of Trump by the psychotic John Luman ‘Jack’ Smith? Probably the legal roadmap for the EU, George Soros, and your beloved Moldovan Nazis.
In the case of your “democratically elected pro-European candidate”, she is sentencing her political opponents to 7 & 7.5 year prison terms for bogus campaign finance violations. CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS!!! These are misdemeanors in the civilized, non Nazi world; punishable only by fines.
But the evil woman you endorse uses these charges to imprison her opposition. Just like Droolin’ Joe. Quite the democracy you endorse.
Roland Freisler smiles up at you from hell.
You see Nazis in Ukraine. You see Nazis in Moldova. You see Nazis in the comments section of Battleswarm. You even see them grinning from Hell. It’s just Nazis , Nazis , Nazis everywhere, in this world and the next.
Just like Z-Putin, you have a monomaniacal obsession with Nazis, who are defined as anyone who opposes Russia’s “illegal war of territorial aggression in Ukraine.”
This puts you on the same side as Russian alliies China, North Korea and Cuba–democratically elected pro-European regimes, each and every one. Amirite, comrade?
“Pretty sure we cannot trust any reports from Moldova, Russia or Ukraine.”
On the contrary, you can trust almost any reporter who distrusts Vladimir Putin.
“You see Nazis in Ukraine. You see Nazis in Moldova. You see Nazis in the comments section of Battleswarm. You even see them grinning from Hell. It’s just Nazis , Nazis , Nazis everywhere, in this world and the next.”
You approve of 7 year prison sentences for elected members of parliament who express views of which you do not approve – views of the constituents who elected them.
You are endorsing the Führerprinzip. It places a leader’s word above all written law, and demands that government policies, decisions, and officials conform to the leader’s will. Officials who do not conform go to the camps.
The Führerprinzip is the sole, clear, unequivocal ideological principle of Nazism. Endorse it and you are, perforce, a Nazi.
You lay down with some stinky bedfellows, comrade.
“The main opponent of the government, the Patriotic Electoral Bloc (also Patriotic Bloc, BEP), was formed in early August 2025 by four political forces: the Socialists, the Communists, as well as the Heart of Moldova Republican Party and the Future of Moldova Party.”
https://uacrisis.org/en/moldova-parlamentski-vybory-2025-v-prytsili-rosijskoyi-propagandy
““The main opponent of the government, the Patriotic Electoral Bloc (also Patriotic Bloc, BEP), was formed in early August 2025 by four political forces: the Socialists, the Communists, as well as the Heart of Moldova Republican Party and the Future of Moldova Party.”
So you and Sandu have the right to decide this for the voters of Moldova? The Moldova voters get no say? This is your interpretation of democracy?
Their chosen candidates get 7+ year prison terms on entirely bogus campaign finance charges, while Sandu benefits from € 100 million of EU (mostly French) and Soros money?
You are a hypocrite, as well as a Nazi.
I’ll take “Countries I didn’t know were countries for $500” Alex.
With any luck, the Moldovans will enjoy the same benefits the Ukrainians have realized by allowing themselves to be drawn into NATO and EU schemes to threaten Russia.
“The Moldova voters get no say? This is your interpretation of democracy?”
The communist gets no empowerment. This is my requirement for political liberty.
“With any luck, the Moldovans will enjoy the same benefits the Ukrainians have realized by allowing themselves to be drawn into NATO and EU schemes to threaten Russia.”
To threaten Russia, you have only to announce a willingness to defend your political sovereignty. This is intolerable to Putin and he will attempt to subvert your country by any available means.
“You are a hypocrite, as well as a Nazi.”
Wait! I thought you said Maia Sandu was Hitler; or perhaps you meant to say Ttrump. I see Sir Keir Rodney Starmer has identified Nigel Farage as being Hitler adjacent so it looks as though Hitlerism has enjoyed a recent revival, 80 years on.
Speaking for myself, I hate all socialists, whether Red, Brown or Green. Nazis are National Socialists, ergo your witless designation of my being a national socialist is just one more example of your inability to think clearly.
“The communist gets no empowerment. This is my requirement for political liberty.”
“Speaking for myself, I hate all socialists, whether Red, Brown or Green. Nazis are National Socialists, ergo your witless designation of my being a national socialist is just one more example of your inability to think clearly.”
You fervently believe in the Führerprinzip. You believe that only you have the true way and that all people – in a country you never heard of six weeks ago – must follow your way. Elections mean nothing to you. You adhere to the single immutable principle of national socialism.
Your political ideology is the product of a seriously disordered mind. You decorate it with words like “liberty” and “democracy”, but you are a totalitarian at heart. You only provide liberty and democracy and respect to those who mindlessly agree with you. All other are subject to your juvenile ridicule.
And yet you wonder why people across Central Europe are doing their level best to resist your ideology.
Thanks, Lawrence, for posting this article. Not only was it informative, but the subject matter is guaranteed to generate a s–tstorm in the comments section. Reading the comments is quite entertaining.
It would also be entertaining to trace the IP address of some of the commenters, although I am sure that they’re using VPN to prevent that.
“And yet you wonder why people across Central Europe are doing their level best to resist your ideology.”
You mean “Hungary” and “Slovakia” don’t you, because they cozy up to Z-Putin,.
“Reading the comments is quite entertaining.”
I’ll be here all week; be sure to try the veal.