Moldova Parliamentary Election Expected to Determine EU-Russia Alignment Amid Hybrid War

Moldova faces significant internal and external challenges as it approaches its parliamentary elections on September 28. President Maia Sandu's pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) is under threat from a rising pro-Russian opposition, with concerns about the legitimacy of mail-in ballots that influenced the previous presidential election and a referendum on EU membership, prompting EU security forces to prepare for potential unrest. Ambassador Victor Chirila described an ongoing ruthless hybrid war against Moldova by Russia, involving political, religious, and criminal elements aimed at destabilizing the country amid its contested European integration path. The Moldovan diaspora, particularly in Romania and Ireland, plays a crucial role in elections, with significant voter participation that could sway outcomes between Western and Russian influences. Meanwhile, the local Jewish community, largely descended from those who fled decades ago, is actively preserving its heritage and combating persistent antisemitism, highlighting the ongoing cultural and societal struggles within Moldova. The country's youth face economic hardship and political disillusionment, with some choosing activism, others apathy and emigration, reflecting broader uncertainty about Moldova's future direction between Russia and the West.