Moldova election results: Who won and did the diaspora play a role?

"Moldova's ruling pro-West governing party won a majority in the country's tense Sunday elections, beating pro-Russian parties by a wide margin amid reported attempts to violently disrupt the vote and allegations of interference by Russia. Results from more than 99 percent of the polling stations counted by Monday noon showed the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) clearly in the lead, despite analysis and opinion polls before the vote suggesting that pro-Russian parties would come close and possibly upset the ruling party's parliamentary majority."

"The small country is located between Ukraine and Romania. One of Europe's poorest states, it was part of the Soviet Republic until 1991. The breakaway, semi-autonomous region of Transnistria, which lies along the border with Ukraine, has traditionally supported ties with Russia. As a result, in recent years, Moldova has emerged as a battleground for influence between Russia and the West."

"For Moldovans, the elections represented a crucial turning point. The small country with Russia's war in Ukraine on its doorstep could either continue on its current path towards European Union membership, or it could fall back into the old fold of Russian influence. Ultimately, despite reports of pro-Russian groups threatening violence, with at least three people arrested in Moldova, and several bomb scares reported at polling booths abroad, the Moldovan diaspora played a key role in delivering a pro-EU victory."

Moldova's pro-West Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) won a clear parliamentary majority, defeating pro-Russian parties amid reported attempts to violently disrupt the vote and allegations of Russian interference. More than 99 percent of polling stations showed PAS in the lead despite pre-election analysis and polls predicting a close race that might have cost the ruling party its majority. Moldova lies between Ukraine and Romania, with the breakaway region of Transnistria favoring ties to Russia. The election was framed as a turning point between pursuing European Union membership or returning to Russian influence. Diaspora voting and security incidents, including arrests and bomb scares, shaped the outcome.

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