President of Moldova Maia Sandu and her ruling Solidarity and Solidarity Party (belt) are in the face of decisive parliamentary elections, which will take place on September 28. There are warnings that the Kremlin will affect their result to destroy the country's efforts aimed at joining the EU.
“There are those who will try to bring us astray. They have already tried … But Moldovans know what is best for them” – as expected, he is to say Sandu on Wednesday during a rally on the occasion of the Independence Day of the country. “For our country, the best choice is to stand on the side of France, Germany, Poland and other nations of our continent in the great family of peace – the European Union.”
Moldova, a country of 2.4 million inhabitants, located between Romania and Ukraine, has become the target of Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Moscow is fighting a physical war to subordinate Kiev, at the same time he uses hybrid tactics to take control of Moldova, including manipulating large -scale voters.
Visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk this week is aimed at helping Moldova in maintaining the course for membership in the EU and reminding the voters that there is an alternative to Russia.
– This is not just a visit, but a vivid connection between Europe and the inhabitants of Moldova – said Juergen Hardt, spokesman for foreign policy ruling the CDU party in Germany. “Never again of our allies will be alone in the face of Russian aggression,” he added.
In the photo from the left: Chairman of the Moldova Parliament Igor Gros, President of Moldova Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Moldova Dorin Recean during the ceremony at the monument to the Maic Indurerat on the occasion of Independence Day of the country, Chisini, Moldova, 27 August 2025.PAP/EPA/DUMITRU DORY/PAP
Half and half
Last year, Sandu secured a second term with a minimum advantage of votes after elections marked by forgery – including through the practice of paying voters for the support of her opponents conducive to the Kremlin. In parallel The referendum on membership in the EU ended with a result of 50.4 percent. votes “for” to 49.6 percent “against” votes.
In both cases, voices of 250,000 Moldovans living abroad, mostly in EU countries, were a key pillar of support for the liberal government. At the beginning of this month, the National Security Advisor Stanisław Secrier warned that concerns about disinformation addressed to the diaspora, and even possible interference in polling stations abroad were growing.
– Under normal circumstances, this election campaign should be very beneficial for those in their politicians. The public opinion survey shows that at present we would almost have most of us – said Nic Popescu, former deputy minister of Moldova, who is running for parliament on behalf of the Pas.
– But of course We are dealing with hybrid attacks, non -synic aggression, Russia smuggling millions of dollars in cash to buy votes on a very large scale. So I am sure that every voice will matter He added.
Signal for Moldova and the opposition of Ukraine
In Chisinau, Mac, Macron and Tusk will want to let Moldovan voters understand that the future of their country is in the EU. Their presence “is a strong signal that Moldova is not alone,” said Siegfried Muresan, Romanian MEP and chairman of the European Parliament delegation to this country. – Her path to Europe is real, without retreat and supported by all main political groups in the EU.
However, the exact date of Moldova's accession to the EU – and taking a key step, which is the opening of the first negotiating cluster [etapu negocjacji] – remains controversial. Earlier this summer, EU officials and diplomats told Politico that the alliance is considering accelerating Moldova's efforts to access the negotiating cluster before the election to stimulate the pro -European camp.
However, Ukraine and many of its allies are definitely opposed to such a move. As one of the diplomats said, the dynamics of the situation was changed by the fact that US President Donald Trump convinced the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban – who opposes Ukraine's membership in the EU, but pointed out that the membership of Moldova – to abolish the blockade of Kiev's accession to the Union.
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– It is understandable that some want to offer Moldova opening the cluster, but doing it because of the upcoming choices would be short -sighted and eventually would have an opposite effect to the intended one – said the diplomat. – Other countries observe the situation.
In turn, the French official said: – In the context of the situation in which Ukraine is in, both the candidacy of Ukraine and Moldova has its advantages. Decisions in Brussels must be made unanimously and we must act in accordance with these rules.
Decisions will be made in the coming days or weeks – he added. Two other diplomats also expressed the hope that the deadlock regarding Ukraine's accession to the EU would be broken in the coming months, taking into account the pressure exerted on Budapest.
Special importance for Poland
Particularly significant is the presence of the Polish Prime Minister Tusk, whose country joined the EU only in 2004. As a former member of the Warsaw Pact, which since then achieved a stunning increase in prosperity, Poland is an example of how it can benefit from membership in the EU.
According to Popescu, a former foreign minister, European countries have their reasons to be interested in the result [wyborów parlamentarnych w Mołdawii].
– If Russia is successful in Ukraine and Moldova, this will be a direct military threat to countries such as Romania and Poland – and people understand what the game is going on. That is why we have this support signal that Moldova matters.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
