Holding on to its parliamentary majority would allow the party to keep Moldova’s EU bid on track, a process requiring years of concerted legislative efforts.

“The Kremlin has bankrolled too big of an operation to stand down and could resort to protests, bribing PAS MPs and other tactics to disrupt forming a stable pro-European government.”

An acrimonious buildup to key poll and protest call

Moscow has denied meddling in Moldova.

In the days leading up to the vote, election officials barred two pro-Russian parties from the ballot amid allegations of illegal financing.

Pulled east and west

Opposition groups like the Patriotic Bloc had sought to tap into voter anger over economic pain and the slow pace of reforms — grievances worsened by what officials say has been widespread disinformation.

Moldovan authorities claim the Kremlin is pouring hundreds of millions of euros to buy hundreds of thousands of votes. Source: AFP / Daniel Mihailescu

Inflation remains stubbornly high at around 7 per cent, while Moldovans also shoulder higher costs for imported energy.