Who holds the reins? Moldova’s post-election political power map

Elections Monitor
29 September 2025

Speakers: Dr. Ionela Maria Ciolan, Research Officer, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies; Anastasia Pociumban, Research Fellow and Project Manager, Eastern Partnership Think Tank Network, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)

Moderator: Amanda Paul, Deputy Head of the Europe in the World Programme & Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre


Moldova’s parliamentary elections on 28 September 2025 represented another critical moment for the country’s democratic development and its path towards EU integration.

Moldova has taken important steps on its path toward EU membership, including launching accession negotiations in June 2024. The country has aligned itself with EU standards, deepened cooperation with European partners, and demonstrated resilience amid mounting external pressure. It continues to play a key role in European security, particularly through its support for Ukraine and its openness to refugees. Nevertheless, Moldova still faces serious challenges, including large-scale Russian disinformation and other hybrid threats, as well as potential instability stemming from its breakaway region of Transnistria and the autonomous region of Gagauzia, which is under Russian influence. These threats were evident in the lead-up to the closely contested 2024 constitutional referendum and presidential elections.

This online Elections Monitor assessed the outcome of the elections, their implications for Moldova’s reform agenda and European trajectory, and what they revealed about the country’s political resilience in the face of foreign interference. The discussion also examined the broader consequences for EU-Moldova relations and regional security.

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