PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2025 | LIVE TEXT: Diaspora turnout: Over 275 thousand Moldovans cast ballots abroad
Citizens of the Republic of Moldova living abroad are increasingly interested in elections held back home.
Over the last ten years, the number of diaspora voters has grown nearly fivefold. For the September 28 parliamentary elections, Moldovan voters abroad have access to a record number of polling stations—301 opened in 45 countries—to express their political choice.
23:25 PAS absolute leader among diaspora voters in Japan, China, India, and UAE
The Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) is currently leading by a significant margin in all polling stations in Asia and the Middle East, where citizens of the Republic of Moldova participated in the parliamentary elections held on September 28. This information is based on preliminary data presented by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).
In Japan, out of 142 voters who participated in the polls, PAS received 88.03% of the votes, while the "Patriotic" Electoral Bloc (BEP) obtained 3.52%.
In China, PAS scored 73.81% of the total 42 votes cast, followed by BEP with 7.14%, and the League of Cities and Communes and Our Party - with 4.46% each.
In India, PAS scored 88.89% of the nine votes cast, and PSDE scored 11.11%.
And in United Arab Emirates the pro-European party ranked first, with 81.51% of the 557 votes, followed by the Patriotic Electoral Bloc with 6.82%, the Alternative Bloc with 4.21% and the Our Party with 2.51%.
In Azerbaijan, PAS scored 67.14% of the 70 votes, BEP - 10%, the Alternative Bloc - 8.57%, and the Our Party - 4.29%.
Similar results were recorded in Kazakhstan, where PAS accumulated 72.22% of the total 18 votes, the "Alternative" Bloc - 11.11%.
In Qatar, PAS scored 69.57% of the 69 votes cast, the "Patriotic" Bloc - 8.70%, the "Alternative" Bloc - 7.25% and the Moldovan Renaissance Movement - 2.9%.
In Ukraine, where 612 voters participated, PAS was the largest party, accounting for 78.76% of the participants in the polls, followed by the "Patriotic" Bloc with 9.48%, the "Alternative" Bloc with 3.92%, and Our Party with 2.61%.
21:46 Polling stations abroad may extend hours; MFA urges citizens to vote
Polling stations abroad may have extended operating hours if necessary. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), this measure can be implemented in strict accordance with legal provisions and requires approval from the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).
The MFA encourages citizens to exercise their right to vote before polling stations close, reads the institution's press release.
Representatives from the Ministry confirmed that the public will be notified promptly if a decision is made to extend the voting period.
19:32 Over 242 thousand Moldovans voted in the diaspora by 7:30 p.m. Most of them - in Italy and Germany
In the diaspora, 242,329 voters voted by 7:30 p.m.
According to data from the Central Electoral Commission, most compatriots voted in Italy - 73,644, followed by those in Germany - 35,365.
In Romania, 27,690 voters voted by 7:30 p.m , in the United Kingdom - 22,662, in Ireland - 9,837, in Spain - 9,023, etc.
18:52 Queues form in Anderlecht, Brussels
After a false bomb alert at the Embassy and Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union, which occurred around 3:00 p.m. Moldovan time, polling stations resumed operations within less than two hours. Some voters chose to wait at the stations until they reopened, while others opted to visit different polling locations in Belgium that were functioning normally.
Queues formed at another polling station in Brussels, specifically in the Anderlecht region. Many voters who arrived after the incident were unaware of what had occurred earlier. Those interviewed by Teleradio-Moldova reporter Luminița Toma expressed their desire for peace and progress in the Republic of Moldova. Many said they hoped to return home.
Voting in Brussels is now proceeding peacefully. First-time voters, who are 18 years old, are receiving applause from the crowd.
18:32 Radio Moldova reporter in Bucharest: Romania among top in voter turnout
Romania is one of the countries with the highest voter turnout in the Republic of Moldova's parliamentary elections. Mircea Oprea, a reporter for Radio Moldova, reported from a polling station in the historic center of Bucharest that out of the 23 polling stations opened in Romania, five are located in Bucharest.
In Iași, three polling stations are available, while Brașov, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara each have two stations. Other cities where Moldovans can vote include Bacău, Baia Mare, Constanța, Craiova, Galați, Oradea, Sibiu, Suceava, and Târgu Mureș, with each city having one polling station.
Currently, there are no lines at the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Bucharest. Many of the voters who have arrived at this station so far are young people.
Ambassador Victor Chirilă has estimated that approximately 30,000 Moldovans will participate in the elections held at polling stations in Romania.
Moldova election: Over 204,000 diaspora votes cast by 17:30 local time
By 17:30 local time, approximately 204,919 citizens of Moldova had voted in the diaspora. The largest turnouts were recorded in Italy (about 63,000), Germany (over 30,000), France (around 19,000), and the UK (18,000). Data from the CEC (Central Electoral Commission) shows women make up 53.3% of voters, and the most active age group is 36–45, followed by the 26–35 group.
Bomb scares halt voting at two Brussels polling stations
The vote remains suspended at two polling stations in Brussels, following bomb scares reported across several countries on Sunday. Similar incidents were reported at voting sites in Rome and Genoa, Italy; Bucharest, Romania; Asheville, US; and Alicante, Spain.
"Authorities intervened rapidly, and voters and members of the electoral bodies were evacuated according to established protocols. The vote was suspended briefly to allow for necessary checks, ensuring the safety of citizens and the smooth continuation of the elections. However, voting is now continuing safely at those sites, with the exception of the two in Brussels where the process remains halted," said the Chairperson of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).
Moldovan voting centres targeted by bomb threats in six cities abroad
Moldovan President Sandu urges diaspora vote to 'safeguard nation'
Moldova's pro-Western President Maia Sandu has urged citizens living abroad to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections on 28 September.
She said the vote was the only way to stop "Russia's plans," which she suggested could undermine the former Soviet republic's security.
Her comments come amid heightened tensions over Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which borders Moldova.
Moldova election: Over 46,000 diaspora voters cast ballots
Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has announced that polling stations for its citizens were targeted by bomb threats in Brussels (Belgium), Rome and Genoa (Italy), Bucharest (Romania), Asheville (US), and Alicante (Spain).
The threats are part of an alleged "assault by the Russian Federation on the electoral process" in Moldova, according to the diplomatic service in Chișinău.
The ministry says officials had prepared for such a scenario.
It added that clear procedures are in place and the ministry is cooperating with international partners "so the electoral process does not suffer." Citizens have been asked to "follow the official information and continue to cast their votes honestly."
Authorities also confirmed that all electoral materials are secure.
Surveillance cameras in the polling stations are operational and the electoral materials will be kept intact until voting resumes.
By 11:30 local time, approximately 46,000 Moldovan citizens living overseas had voted, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
The highest number of votes were recorded in Italy (over 17,000), followed by Romania (about 7,700), Germany (over 5,600), and France (approximately 4,100).
Women represented over half of the voters (53.7%), and the most active age group was 36 to 45.
Italy, Romania and Germany top in diaspora turnout
Over 20,000 Moldovans voting overseas had voted by 10:00 AM, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced.
The highest turnout was in Italy, with approximately 7,100 voters; followed by Romania (3,800) and Germany (2,500).
Moldova Election: IT student casts first vote in Beijing
Marin, an IT student who has lived in Beijing for several years, was the first person in China to vote in the parliamentary elections being held in Moldova.
The Moldovan Embassy in China thanked voters for exercising their right to vote, despite the distances involved.
“We warmly welcome all Moldovans abroad to the polls,” the diplomatic mission said in a statement.
Early voting queues form in Brussels
In Brussels, Moldovan citizens began forming queues from the early hours to cast their ballots. Queues formed at the polling station inside the Moldovan Embassy. Images from the scene were sent to the newsroom by Luminiţa Toma, a Teleradio-Moldova correspondent.
Late postal voters can still vote in person Voters who opted for postal voting but sent their envelopes containing their ballot late can still vote in person at any open polling station.
By 18:00 (6pm) on 26 September, local time in the host country, the four electoral offices dealing with postal voting had received 2,055 envelopes out of the 2,472 sent to voters.
The Washington polling station electoral office received the most envelopes, with 1,162, followed by Ottawa (555), Stockholm (286) and Tokyo (52).
Diaspora voting underway in 17 countries
The diaspora voting process is underway in polling stations in Japan, China, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, Israel, the Russian Federation, Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, the Russian Federation, and the United Arab Emirates.
The first polling station to open for this election was in Japan, where voting started at 01:00 Chisinau time (07:00 Tokyo local time).
First vote in Japan: 'Moldova's future is written by every honest vote'
The voting process for the diaspora started in Japan. Ana Teişanu, a student at the University of Tsukuba, was the first to cast her ballot.
“For me, voting is not just a right, but a duty—the future of Moldova is written with every honest vote. I voted for peace, for development, and for a prosperous Moldova on its European path. My message is simple: Go and vote if you love your country. There is no ‘Runoff’—there is only the unique chance to decide the future for the next four years, today,” she stated.
Ana Teişanu is convinced that young people and other citizens in the diaspora have a decisive role on this day. “Tomorrow’s Moldova will be as strong as we believe in it today,” she added.
Diaspora voting figures
Italy hosts the most polling stations with 75, followed by Germany (36 stations), France (26), the United Kingdom (24), Romania (23), the United States of America (22), Spain (15), Ireland (12), Canada (seven stations), etc.
In the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Israel, states involved in military conflicts, only two stations were opened in each, with authorities citing security reasons.
Diaspora votes: A decade of growth
The number of voters in the diaspora has grown steadily over the last five elections held in the Republic of Moldova.
In the 2014 parliamentary elections, over 70,000 diaspora voters cast their ballots in the 94 polling stations opened in 31 countries.
Two years later, in the 2016 presidential elections, approximately 67,000 Moldovan voters went to the polls in the first round and over 138,000 in the second round.
In 2020, about 150,000 diaspora citizens participated in the first round of voting and over 235,000 in the decisive round.
In the 2021 snap parliamentary elections, approximately 212,000 votes were cast in the diaspora.
A new record was registered in the 2024 presidential elections: approximately 240,000 in the first round and over 325,000 diaspora voters in the second.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
