Moldova’s pro-European ruling party scored a decisive win over its Russia-leaning rival in a key parliamentary election, results showed Monday, bolstering the country’s push to join the European Union and distance itself from Moscow.
The surprisingly strong performance Sunday by President Maia Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) against the Patriotic Bloc was a relief for the government and its European partners, who accused Moscow of seeking to influence the vote.
With nearly all votes counted, PAS had won 50.2% against 24.2% for the Patriotic Bloc, which had sought to steer Moldova – a small former Soviet republic wedged between Ukraine and EU member Romania – closer to Russia.
Some polls leading up to the election put PAS and Patriotic Bloc neck-and-neck, with neither likely to get a majority. The near-final tally by Moldova's electoral commission allows the government to push for its goal of EU membership by 2030.
Strong support for EU
