September parliamentary elections could change the country’s political course
Top officials from the European Union and NATO have been making frequent visits to Moldova — and for good reason. With parliamentary elections scheduled for September, there’s growing concern in Brussels that Moldova’s pro-European course could be derailed. The ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) has already introduced a bill to set the election date for September 28.
«We will either destroy everything we have achieved on the path to European modernization and block any chance of joining the EU, or we will move forward toward development and peace», declared parliament speaker Igor Grosu.
But public support for EU membership is waning. «Unfortunately, we no longer see approval ratings for Moldova’s EU membership above 50 percent. We’re now hovering around 45%, which has been consistently reflected in almost all recent polls — at least the last three», said Doru Petruți, director of Romanian polling company IMAS, whose surveys are considered among the most reliable.
In an unprecedented move, PAS — which controls the presidency, parliament and government — pushed to allow 15-year-olds to vote, arguing that these youths, born long after the Soviet era, naturally lean toward Europe.
Despite strong anti-Russian rhetoric from pro-government media, 62% of Moldovans favor a foreign policy oriented either toward Russia or toward both Russia and the EU. Voters rank Russia as Moldova’s most important security partner, followed by the EU (28.7%), Romania (10%), and the United States (5.3%).
Amid rising tensions, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made a surprise visit to Chișinău. Despite Moldova’s constitutional neutrality, Rutte discussed «regional security and cooperation» with President Maia Sandu under a new Individual Partnership Program approved earlier this year.
While the flurry of new agreements — from IPAPs to PARPs to ITPPs — may seem like bureaucratic jargon, the reality is clear: Moldova has been quietly strengthening its ties with NATO for decades, including joint projects, a NATO information center in the capital, and a steady modernization of its national army to NATO standards.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defense (SEDE), led by German politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, also visited Moldova.
«Our position is absolutely clear: Moldova is a priority state», Strack-Zimmermann stated. «This decision is not a coincidence. It reflects your consistent efforts and your strong commitment to reform». She emphasized Moldova’s resilience «in the face of persistent challenges from Russia» and warned that «the ongoing hybrid war is seriously undermining the democratic stability of a country that stands as a bulwark of democracy on the EU’s eastern border».
During the visit, Moldova signed a landmark security and defense partnership agreement with the EU — the first of its kind. «This agreement is more than a political statement», said Strack-Zimmermann. «It is a real platform for joint action, based on mutual trust and a shared strategic vision. Moldova is becoming part of the emerging European security architecture».
Still, the sense of urgency among the visiting dignitaries is hard to ignore. Public confidence in Moldova’s institutions is collapsing: recent polls show that 79% of voters distrust the government and parliament, 72% distrust the media, and 71% distrust the president. Only the church and local governments retain significant public trust.
Faced with these numbers, the Moldovan government passed controversial amendments tightening restrictions on political parties. Membership lists must now be submitted to the Central Election Commission and the Public Service Agency. Parties deemed «unconstitutional» will be prohibited from renaming themselves.
Moldova’s Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) has been given broader powers to monitor election activities and investigate potential fraud or illegal interference.
One example of the government’s crackdown is the case of Evghenia Guțul, the governor (bashkan) of Gagauzia, an autonomous region. Guțul, who won the 2023 local elections representing the Șor Party — which was later banned by the authorities — has faced sustained legal pressure. Despite her legal victory, President Sandu has refused to sign the decree formally integrating Guțul into the national government.
On March 25, Guțul was arrested for alleged violations related to party financing and the management of campaign funds. Although she had formally distanced herself from the Șor Party, prosecutors have continued to pursue her. Guțul, who has visited Moscow several times and even met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was initially remanded in custody until April 14, but was later placed under house arrest for 30 days.
The message is clear: Sandu’s government, likely under strong pressure from Brussels, has begun to clear the political field of opponents ahead of crucial elections.