Moldovan President Maia Sandu recently articulated her views on the critical role of European Union (EU) accession for her country’s survival during a significant address to the European Parliament. With parliamentary elections approaching on September 28, 2025, she stressed the urgency of the situation, describing these upcoming elections as potentially the most consequential in Moldova’s history. Sandu characterized the electoral process as a “final battle” for the nation’s aspirations toward EU membership, emphasizing that the outcome will determine whether Moldova can maintain a stable democracy or fall under Russian influence, which she perceives as a major threat.
In her address, Sandu acknowledged that support for her pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) has declined since the last elections in 2021. This shift in public sentiment raises concerns that the PAS could be outperformed by the opposition Patriotic Bloc (PSRM), a coalition of parties aligned closely with Russia. Sandu underscored the significance of these elections by asserting that they would be pivotal for Moldova’s pursuit of EU membership and its overall democratic integrity. The backdrop of this election is also defined by Russia’s growing interference, which Sandu claims is aimed at destabilizing the country and pulling it away from Europe.
Moldova has been a candidate for EU membership since 2022 and began formal negotiations in June 2024. However, Sandu described this journey as a “race against time” to shield the nation from Russian threats. This urgency came into sharp focus after an October referendum that narrowly affirmed EU accession in the Moldovan constitution, leaving the pro-EU factions feeling deflated due to allegations of vote-buying and Russian meddling. Sandu continues to alert her constituents and the EU about the gravity of Russian influence in regional politics, stressing that such interference undermines Moldova’s path towards European integration.
The president raised alarming concerns over the various tactics being employed by Russian operatives to manipulate the electoral process in Moldova. She claimed that Russia has orchestrated a range of hybrid attacks—including illicit financing, cyberattacks, and social media manipulation—to sway the elections in favor of pro-Russian parties. Notably, Sandu mentioned that Russian interferences extend to deceptive practices like fake emails posing as state communications and deepfakes of politicians, aimed at discrediting the pro-EU camp.
Sandu alleged that Russia has allocated significant resources—equivalent to 1% of Moldova’s GDP—toward influencing the upcoming elections. Additionally, she pointed to the involvement of organized crime, asserting that local gangs are being enlisted for intimidation tactics against pro-democratic groups. The president highlighted that Moldovans residing abroad faced targeted campaigns discouraging their participation in the electoral process, including hoax bomb threats at polling stations across various European countries—a strategy meant to disrupt voting.
In a broader context, the president warned that Moldova could serve as a “testing ground” for Russian hybrid warfare tactics on European soil. By framing the situation in Moldova within the larger scope of Russian aspirations, she argued that the Kremlin aims to turn her country into a “launchpad” for future attacks on the European Union. Through her address, Sandu sought to rally support not only for her party but also for the wider European democratic values at stake, emphasizing the interconnectedness of regional security and the integrity of European democracy against external threats, particularly from Russia.
