Moldova elections: Pro-EU PAS secures majority amid Russian interference claims
The pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) has secured a parliamentary majority following the September 28 elections, with its leader, Igor Grosu, declaring citizens had won a battle against "enemies of the country" who seemed impossible to defeat.
During a press conference on Monday, Mr Grosu insisted the victory was for "the people," not just the party.
He claimed the election was an "incredibly tough fight," alleging that the Russian Federation had deployed "the worst of its dirty tactics," including "tons of money, lies, and illegalities." Mr Grosu accused Russia of using "criminal elements" to turn Moldova into a "space of criminality."
He contrasted this with his party's supporters, describing them as "our people" who fought "holding their heads high... with great patriotism."
Expressing gratitude to everyone who voted, especially the citizens who "rose above their frustrations for a great objective," Mr Grosu added that Moldova, which he called "a country tormented for decades," had "impressed the entire world" after the vote.
PAS holds this majority only because voters backed the country’s European future and sought "to protect the country from a pro-Russian majority," he said.
Mr Grosu stressed that the fundamental objective remained accession to the European Union (EU).
"We will provide President Maia Sandu with all the necessary parliamentary support to achieve this goal together," the politician affirmed. He added that the party must "accelerate the reforms already underway" and launch other necessary reforms that were not implemented in the first term.
"We have a great responsibility: to bring the European Union home," he stated.
The PAS leader reiterated his commitment to govern "for all Moldovans, regardless of whom they voted for," and urged everyone to "build bridges between us and to work for the common good."
Prime Minister Dorin Recean, who was second on the PAS electoral list, thanked citizens "for the incredible lesson in dignity, courage, and love for their nation," as well as the public institutions that "defended the electoral process."
"These elections showed that when the state and the citizens defend the country together, democracy wins and the people win," Mr Recean stated.
He concluded by outlining the party's priorities: "to bring the European Union home, to continue the reform of the justice system, to strengthen our state institutions, and to ensure economic development."
Preliminary results, after counting 99.91% of ballots, show that PAS obtained 50.16% or 791,042 of the votes cast.
Other groups expected to enter parliament include the "Patriotic" Bloc (24.19%), the "Alternativa" Bloc (7.97%), Our Party (6.2%), and the "Democracy at Home" Party (5.62%).
Translation by Iurie Tataru
