Moldova to hold ‘crucial’ elections on Sept. 28

Moldova’s parliament voted Thursday to hold parliamentary elections on Sept. 28, in a vote that could significantly reduce the number of seats held by President Maia Sandu’s pro-European PAS party.

The motion was approved by 57 lawmakers, with 32 abstaining. The vote is expected to be highly competitive and may reshape Moldova’s political landscape.

Sandu, who is seeking to align Moldova more closely with the European Union and move away from the country’s historical ties to Moscow, faces a growing challenge from the opposition. Former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo, who came close to defeating Sandu in last year’s presidential race, is now leading a coalition of three parties to contest PAS’s majority.

According to parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, the September vote will be “crucial” in shaping the country’s future.

“Either we throw away everything we’ve achieved on our path to modernization and EU integration, or we move forward toward peace and development,” Grosu said Wednesday, announcing PAS’s decision to hold the elections.

“Our goal is to ensure that Moldova stays on the road to peace, avoids falling under Kremlin influence, and preserves its sovereignty and freedom,” he added.

Moldova has a long history of Russian interference, with Moscow repeatedly accused of backing political parties and spreading disinformation. Similar concerns were raised during the last elections, held on Oct. 20, 2024, which coincided with a narrowly passed referendum on EU membership.