The ongoing tug-of-war between East and West marks another milestone on Sunday, February 24 when voters head to the polls in Moldova to elect a new parliament. While the pro-Russia Socialist Party, formerly led by controversial President Igor Dodon, is expected to win the most votes, it is not expected to receive a clear majority in a race that also includes the ruling, pro-EU Democratic Party and the anti-corruption ACUM (Now) bloc.
The campaign has been marked by accusations by two leaders of the ACUM bloc, Maia Sandu and Andre Nastase, that they were being poisoned by authorities; efforts by Facebook to remove dozens of accounts from its social-media platforms after exposing activity they characterized as "engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior targeting people in Moldova" ahead of the vote; and calls by the U.S. State Department that Moldovan authorities “take all necessary measures” to make sure candidates are able to “carry out their campaigns without fear of harassment or physical harm.”
RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service has closely followed developments in the parliamentary elections, providing insight into the parties, platforms and candidates contesting the election.
RFE/RL journalists are available for comment and insight on Moldova and Sunday’s election:
Oana Serafim -- Director, Moldovan Service (English, Romanian)
serafimo@rferl.org - mob: +420.732.528.162 - facebook.com/europalibera.org/
Vasile Botnaru -- Chisinau Bureau Chief, Moldovan Service (Romanian, English)
WATCH: One Minute With Vasile Botnaru
botnaruv@gmail.com - mob: +373.22.20.00.05
To schedule an interview with any of RFE/RL's experts, contact Martins Zvaners in Washington (zvanersm@rferl.org; +1.202.457.6948), or Joanna Levison in Prague (levisonj@rferl.org; +420.221.122.080).
Follow the latest developments on RFERL.org.
