The Latest Breaking News from Maia Sandu

Western-friendly ruling party faces fierce challenge from opposition amid reports of Kremlin interference

The background, key players and likely outcome of a contest of crucial interest to both Europe and Russia

Online disinformation aimed at discrediting Moldova's pro-European government is ramping up ahead of the crunch parliamentary elections on 28 September.

Seven years after moving to Ireland, Natalia Stirbu still goes home to Moldova to vote -- part of a powerful diaspora whose ballots could prove decisive in the small country's battle between Moscow and the West.

Moldovans will vote this week in tense parliamentary elections which its president has called the "most consequential" in the small country's history, as it teeters between its powerful neighbour Russia and the West.

Under mounting pressure from Russian interference, Moldova faces a critical test of its democracy with parliamentary elections on 28 September. RFI spoke to Nicu Popescu, the country’s former deputy prime minister and foreign minister, who is running for parliament on the list of the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party.

Moldovans will vote on 28 September in a crucial snap parliamentary election. The outcome will influence the country's EU membership bid amid Russia's war in Ukraine.

Parliamentary elections will be held in Moldova on September 28. While this may seem like a minor event for the rest of Europe, implications for the rest of the continent’s security and stability could be profound.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu told European lawmakers that Russia is carrying out extensive interference in an attempt to pull her country back into its orbit ahead of this month’s crucial parliamentary elections.