Moldova votes in tense polls, torn between EU and Russia

Moldovans voted on Sunday in parliamentary elections that could see Ukraine's neighbour swerve from its pro-European path back toward Moscow's orbit, with the government and the EU accusing Russia of interfering in the ex-Soviet country.

The small European Union candidate nation, which has a pro-Russia breakaway region, has long been divided over whether to move closer with Brussels or maintain Soviet-era relations with Moscow.

Most surveys ahead of the vote showed the pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), in power since 2021, in the lead. But analysts say the race is far from certain.

As polls closed at 9:00 pm (1800 GMT) in Moldova, turnout stood at 51.9 percent, but polling stations abroad still remain open until 9:00 pm local time. The final turnout was 52.3 percent at the last parliamentary elections in 2021.

The first results were expected later Sunday.

If PAS fails to retain its majority, it could throw up hurdles in the push towards EU integration, launched after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Voters in the country of 2.4 million -- one of Europe's poorest -- have expressed frustration over economic hardship, as well as scepticism over the drive to join the EU.

 'Crossroads' 

Voter Natalia Sandu said the election was "important because we're at a crossroads".

"Our hope, and our expectation, is that we will stay on the European path. The alternative is unthinkable, I refuse to even imagine sliding back into the past," the 34-year-old homemaker told AFP.

But others want Moldova to be closer aligned to Russia again.

"I want higher wages and pensions.... I want things to continue as they were during the Russian times," Vasile, a 51-year-old locksmith and welder, who only gave his first name, told AFP at a polling station in Chisinau as a steady stream of voters arrived.

The ballot is overshadowed by fears of vote buying and unrest, as well as an "an unprecedented campaign of disinformation" from Russia, according to the EU.

Moscow has denied the allegations.

Moldova's cybersecurity service said on Sunday it detected several attempted attacks on the electoral infrastructure, which were "neutralised in real time... without affecting the availability or integrity of electoral services".

Pro-EU President Maia Sandu of PAS warned after casting her vote of a "massive interference of Russia", saying Moldova was "in danger" and "might lose everything it has won" posing "significant risk also for other countries like Ukraine".

In the breakaway region of Transnistria, authorities, in turn, accused Chisinau of "numerous and blatant" attempts to limit the vote of Moldovans living in the separatist territory by reducing the number of polling stations and other tactics.

"I voted for getting back to normal, for the development of the Republic of Moldova," Igor Dodon, one of the leaders of the pro-Russian opposition Patriotic Bloc, said after casting his vote in Chisinau.

Dodon, a former president, has accused the government of trying to steal the vote, and reiterated a call for supporters "to peacefully protest" on Monday to "defend our victory".

In an interview earlier this week, Dodon told AFP that on foreign policy, he would "continue discussions, negotiations with the EU, but we will also re-establish relations with the Russian Federation".

 'Significant risks  

The government has accused the Kremlin of spending hundreds of millions in "dirty money" to interfere in the campaign.

In the lead-up to the vote, prosecutors have carried out hundreds of searches related to what the government says are "electoral corruption" and "destabilisation attempts", with dozens arrested.

Foreign interference and threats of stirring up unrest are "the most significant risks," according to Igor Botan, the head of Moldovan think tank Adept.

Some 20 political parties and independent candidates are running for the 101 parliamentary seats.

Botan said the result is "very difficult to predict".

"Post-election negotiations to form an alliance (to govern) are highly likely, and here too, things are unclear," he said.