ambassador

– The fact that the pro-European reform camp won these elections thanks to the diaspora voting abroad shows the scale of the difficulties that the state has to face – including demographic problems, and consequently political ones. There were regions on the territory of Moldova where over 90% of people voted against the European Union – said Tomasz Kobzdej, Polish diplomat, and since 2022 the Polish ambassador to Moldova, in an interview with the Warsaw Enterprise Institute as part of the „Pentru Moldova – For Moldova” project.

On October 20 and November 3 this year, presidential elections were held in Moldova along with the European referendum. What is the current political situation in this country?

The referendum and the presidential elections have been written about in great detail in the Polish media, so let us briefly recall: by a minimal majority (50.4:49.6), with a turnout barely exceeding half of those eligible, voters voted for Moldova’s membership in the European Union and for the inclusion of European integration in the Moldovan constitution as a strategic goal of the state (this amendment has already been officially introduced). In the second round of the presidential elections, the leader of the Moldovan reform camp, the current President Maia Sandu, defeated (55.3:44.7) the candidate of the pro-Russian socialists, Alexander Stoianoglo.

This double plebiscite was subject to very aggressive, massive Russian interference. Moscow presented the entire spectrum of hybrid election-related activities: an unprecedented scale of vote-buying, voter intimidation, illegal organized transportation of supporters of the Russian favorite to the polling stations, cyberattacks on the IT infrastructure of the electoral system, bomb scares at polling stations. Incidentally, an in-depth analysis of these activities is needed in the capitals of all European countries, more or less exposed to external interference in democratic processes.

The referendum and elections were also preceded by very aggressive, externally inspired and financed anti-Western and anti-EU propaganda. We must remember these conditions when looking at the voting results.

This does not change the fact that Moldovan society is deeply divided. The fact that the pro-European reform camp won thanks to the diaspora voting abroad shows the scale of the difficulties that the country has to face – including demographic problems, and consequently political ones. There were regions on the territory of Moldova where over 90 percent of people voted against the European Union.

From the Polish perspective, however, we should be pleased that the forces pushing Moldova westwards, seeing the future of their country in strengthening relations with partners such as Poland, are still in power, and the Moldovan constitution assumes the country’s membership in European structures.

The referendum and elections were a very important battle in the geopolitical „war” for Moldova. Now, however, Moldovan leaders must prepare for an even more difficult battle, which will be the parliamentary elections in 2025. The coming months will be a time of reshuffles on the political scene aimed at building a broader coalition of pro-European forces. I recommend Moldova to all those interested not only in international relations, but also in the domestic mechanisms of power. This will be a very interesting time.

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