22 September 2025
Op-ed originally published at European Interest
By Paula Cardoso (MP, Portugal) and Linnéa Wickman (MP, Sweden)
As hybrid threats mount in Moldova and elsewhere, the vote on 28 September will reveal whether democratic institutions can hold the line.
On 28 September, Moldovans will go to the polls in parliamentary elections that could prove decisive for the country’s democratic future. We cannot afford to view this vote as routine. It comes at a moment when hybrid threats are multiplying and the very idea of Moldova’s place in Europe is being contested. What happens in these elections will reverberate far beyond Chișinău.
These are the first parliamentary elections under Moldova’s new 2022 Electoral Code, a legal framework that has been repeatedly revised in an effort to close loopholes that have previously enabled irregularities to take place. Parliament’s adoption of Law 100 earlier this year expanded definitions of electoral corruption, imposed harsher penalties for vote buying, and tightened campaign financing rules. While these steps are a welcome development, it should be appreciated that legislation alone will not safeguard democracy. What matters most is whether citizens believe that these reforms will be enforced fairly and consistently, and whether their vote will truly count.
In our recent pre-electoral visit to Chișinău, we held extensive discussions with representatives of Moldova’s election administration bodies, political parties and candidates, civil society, and the media. We also met our election observation partners from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, who have been on the ground since mid-August, closely monitoring the run-up to the elections, as well as representatives of the OSCE Mission to Moldova. These discussions were instrumental in helping to provide background on any possible areas of concern.
As observers deeply immersed in Moldova’s electoral landscape, we see the upcoming parliamentary elections as a defining moment for the nation’s democratic trajectory. These elections unfold against a backdrop of profound political polarization, exacerbated by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and Moldova’s pursuit of European Union integration. Russia’s war has also battered Moldova’s economy, driving up energy prices and fueling inflation.
With this backdrop, we have heard how hybrid threats—disinformation campaigns, illicit financing, and cybersecurity risks—loom large, testing the resilience of Moldova’s institutions. Yet, amid these challenges, there are signs of robust efforts to fortify the process, offering hope for a credible outcome that aligns with the aspirations of Moldovans for stability and progress. The authorities still have work to do with strengthening the legal framework.
Election administration, led by the CEC, has proceeded professionally, meeting deadlines despite some criticisms. The CEC has established 37 District Electoral Councils and over 2,200 Precinct Electoral Bureaus (PEBs), including 301 abroad. We note the CEC’s transparency in sessions and decisions, though opposition concerns about political influence warrant scrutiny.
While election administration tasks are largely proceeding professionally and transparently, the political context is fraught with tension. We note the unprecedented scale of foreign interference exposed in recent polls, prompting legislative reforms to combat electoral corruption.
The media landscape illustrates another fault line. Moldova has a diverse press, but one constrained by shrinking advertising revenue and opaque ownership structures. Some journalists have faced harassment online and in person, with limited institutional protection. Television remains influential, but its reach is increasingly rivaled by social media, where regulation is even weaker. In this environment, truth is often crowded out by volume, and citizens are left to navigate a maze of competing claims.
Furthermore, disinformation campaigns have targeted both political leaders and the CEC and illicit funds continue to seep into the campaign through proxies, despite new restrictions. These threats are not abstract. They are designed to erode trust before a single ballot is cast.
To its credit, the state is clearly taking these dangers seriously. Law enforcement agencies have moved more aggressively against vote buying and paid protests, detaining suspects and seizing illicit funds in recent weeks. Authorities have also sought to educate the public, warning voters of the risks and consequences of selling their ballot. But these efforts are racing against the clock, and against actors determined to destabilize.
As Moldova navigates these elections, we believe steadfast commitment to transparency and international standards is essential, and this is where international election observation comes in. Based on our established methodology, we will help determine the credibility of the process and our assessment could help solidify Moldova’s democratic path. Working with our partners, we urge all stakeholders to uphold integrity, ensuring every Moldovan’s voice counts in shaping a secure, prosperous future.
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Portuguese parliamentarian Paula Cardoso has been appointed by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office as Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observers to Moldova, and Swedish parliamentarian Linnéa Wickman has been appointed by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President as Head of the PA’s delegation of observers.
