The win, which still needs to be made official by the nation’s election commission, could further Moldova’s bid to enter the European Union. That prospect would have been under threat had parties aligned with Russia made serious gains in the race. The election had taken on outsize global importance, considering that Moldova is a tiny nation of 2.4 million. Wedged between Romania and Ukraine, it is strategically important as the war in Ukraine rages on. The vote had also become a referendum on Europe versus Russia, with Moldovans choosing which vision of their future to embrace.

Source: The Times September 30, 2025 03:21 UTC