Moldova

Moldova is a nation in the northeastern Balkans, bordered by Romania and Ukraine, with 2.5 million people. It shares a common language and similar culture with Romania; however, during the Soviet era, it was part of the Soviet Union as a Soviet republic, while Romania was communist under a satellite state. Today, Moldova remains outside the European and NATO sphere of influence, with constitutional neutrality enshrined, meaning it has no national interest in joining military alliances. Moldovan politics center on a constant back-and-forth between pro-European and pro-Kremlin parties over the direction of the young nation. Moldova’s president Maia Sandu, a pro-European politician, was re-elected in 2024, and Moldova began its application to join the European Union in 2022, with the process still ongoing.

The last Moldovan elections were in 2025. The pro-European, liberal center-right party Action and Solidarity (PAS) received over 50% of the vote, while the pro-Russian Patriot Electoral Bloc received a quarter. In contrast, Alternative and Our Party, mildly pro-European and pro-Russian smaller parties, helped round out parliament. This election helped cement a pro-EU direction, mandated by voters, as well as the PAS’s platform of anti-corruption and energy independence. This election was not without complication, as reports of Russian electoral interference were widespread. This included misinformation, illegal financing, and vote buying.