The victory of a pro-European party in Moldova’s parliamentary elections was a litmus test in the former Soviet nation, where Russian interference and disinformation campaigns have spent millions in a bid to prevent the country from joining the European mainstream.
The governing Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) easily defeated a challenge by the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc. Although its margin of victory was far lower than four years ago, the PAS still won just over 50% of the vote –- putting Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, one step closer to joining the European Union.
Two years ago, a PAS victory looked far less likely amid widespread protests against higher energy prices and other bread-and-butter issues. But its triumph on Sunday brought with it a few takeaways for Europe as a whole.
The stakes were high. Just before the election, the European Council on Foreign Relations called the vote a stress test for European resilience. “Empowered Kremlin-linked parties or blocs would create a direct security risk on Ukraine’s southwest border and provide a central base from
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