Status: 07/12/2021 6:04 p.m.
The voters of the ex-Soviet Republic of Moldova have clearly spoken out in favor of the pro-European course of their President Sandu. In the parliamentary election, her party received an absolute majority with 63 out of 101 seats.
Christina Nagel
ARD studio Moscow
In the parliamentary elections in Moldova, the Action and Solidarity (PAS) party, founded by President Maria Sandu, clearly prevailed. According to the preliminary final result that is now available, the PAS party received almost 53 percent of the vote.
According to the Central Election Commission, the alliance of socialists and communists received around 27 percent of the vote. The party of the scandal-ridden oligarch Ilan Schor also made it into parliament. 63 of the 101 seats in parliament go to the party founded by Sandu. The PAS party can govern with it alone.
Many Moldovans hope that the clear outcome of the election can overcome the political crisis and that President Sandu will now keep her promise and take action against corruption and poverty.
Headwind from several sides
Despite the majority in parliament, it should not be easy for the economic expert: Influential oligarchs will try to undermine their reforms – whether in the judiciary or in the economic sector. Russia is also critical of Sandu’s course towards the EU. Moscow should try to counteract this, also with the help of the socialists under the leadership of Sandu’s predecessor, Igor Dodon. He accepted the election result, but made it clear that he would be critical of the new government’s policies.
Sandu’s predecessor Dodon is a supporter of pro-Russia politics.
Image: EPA
The international election observers were by and large satisfied with the election. There was a lot of competition. Election day was largely fair and free. However, the partially non-transparent election campaign financing continues to cause concern.