EU Leaders’ Moldova Trip Ignites Election Meddling Accusations

A high-profile visit to Moldova by top European leaders for its Independence Day has ignited a fierce political firestorm, with opposition parties accusing the West of direct interference in the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections. The planned arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is being cast by critics as a blatant campaign event to prop up President Maia Sandu and her ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) just weeks before the September 28 vote.

According to President Sandu’s office, the European dignitaries will join her for official statements and will later address citizens at a public concert in Chisinau on August 27. The administration has framed the event as a powerful symbol of the European Union’s trust in Moldova and its unwavering support for the nation’s path toward EU integration. This narrative was further reinforced by recent visits from the Romanian Prime Minister and Austria’s foreign minister, all emphasizing solidarity with Moldova’s pro-European course.

However, the country’s opposition has vehemently rejected this official narrative. Former President Igor Dodon condemned the visit as an unacceptable intervention in Moldova’s internal affairs. “Imagine if Putin or Lukashenko came before the 2020 presidential elections. Such an uproar would have been raised in European capitals,” Dodon stated. “But for them, it’s permissible. They cross all red lines to support their puppets.”

This sentiment was echoed by former Prime Minister Vlad Filat, who argued that the visit constitutes direct support for an electoral competitor. “Let’s be honest: this is not support for the Republic of Moldova, but for Maia Sandu,” he said, asserting that the timing transforms the European leaders into active participants in the election campaign on behalf of the ruling party.

Political analyst and Social Democratic Party leader Viktor Shelin offered a more strategic view, suggesting the visit is a calculated move to sway undecided voters. He predicts that while PAS may struggle to win an outright majority due to public disillusionment, it will likely retain power by forming a coalition. “The argument used by Sandu and her European colleagues will be: if PAS loses, there will be no European future, and the Russians will come,” Shelin noted. He believes this tactic is aimed at mobilizing a crucial 20% of voters who are unhappy with PAS but fear a pro-Russian alternative even more.

Against this backdrop of political maneuvering, President Sandu has also issued warnings about external threats, recently cautioning the breakaway region of Transnistria that it could face another energy crisis provoked by the Russian Federation. Meanwhile, the political tensions are underscored by public sentiment on the ground. A recent poll by iData revealed that 53.2% of Moldovans believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, indicating a deep well of dissatisfaction that will be a critical factor in the upcoming vote.