The Promo-LEX Association, a member of the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), has released a statement on observing Moldova’s 28 September 2025 parliamentary elections, highlighting both improvements and persistent systemic challenges.

Introduction

On 28 September 2025, citizens of the Republic of Moldova were called to elect a new Parliament. The elections were competitive and offered voters a wide choice of political alternatives. The legal and institutional framework has improved, with the implementation of 20 out of 22 prior Promo-LEX recommendations. At the same time, recurring and systemic challenges persisted, including late legislative changes, the abusive use of administrative resources, electoral corruption and illicit financing, disinformation and hate speech, as well as restrictions affecting the participation of some political actors.

Political and social context

The pre-election period was characterized by political stability, with a single-party government in office. At the same time, relations between governing and opposition forces remained tense, with electoral competition shaped by sharp geopolitical cleavages. Moldova’s EU candidate status and allegations of Russian interference further polarized the environment.

Promo-LEX documented that interference took organized forms: illegal financing of parties, cyber-attacks, paid protests, manipulation via religious actors, and disinformation campaigns. The continuing role of Ilan Șor, a fugitive politician associated with a party declared unconstitutional, confirmed that external influence is not isolated but systematic.

Legal framework

The new Electoral Code, in force since 2023, provides an adequate basis for organizing elections, mostly in line with international standards, and was for the first time applied in the context of the parliamentary elections. Positive amendments included extension of postal voting for the voters from abroad, and most important – on combating illegal financing and electoral corruption.

Yet, legal stability was undermined by frequent and late amendments after the date of elections was set. Restrictive eligibility conditions meant that only 33 of 66 registered parties could participate. The “successor party” rules and court-ordered limitation of a party’s activity, especially the decisions adopted close to election day, reduced the predictability of the electoral process and affected the time for effective remedies.

New accreditation rules for observers required proof of organizational capacity, exceeding domestic law and international practice, creating a risk of arbitrary rejection.

Election administration

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) generally managed the electoral process in an efficient and transparent manner, by organizing public sittings, live-streaming decisions, and implementing civic information campaigns. The number of accredited observers (both national and international) was significantly higher than in 2021 and 2024.

Nevertheless, sensitive CEC decisions were often adopted by a ratio of 3 to 6 members. Some regulations were not finalized by the start of the campaign, and staffing gaps persisted. Promo-LEX documented pressures on CEC members “at the edge of intimidation.”

At the local level, numerous polling boards were incomplete until shortly before election day. Accessibility remains a systemic issue: nearly half of polling stations were not adapted for persons with disabilities.

Candidate registration

CEC examined applications in public sittings, within legal deadlines, ultimately registering 23 contestants (15 parties, 4 blocs, 4 independents; one political party later cancelled).

However, stricter requirements under the Law on Political Parties limited participation. The CEC modified some lists registered candidates only days before the election, despite the Electoral Code forbidding such changes within 10 days. These late exclusions (e.g. in the Patriotic Bloc and Democracy at Home Party lists), although appreciated by Promo-LEX Election Observation Mission for giving these candidates the opportunity to correct the identified problems, highlighted the inconsistencies of the legal framework.

Election campaign

The campaign was highly polarized over the country’s geopolitical orientation. It was also more intense than in 2021 and 2024 elections, combining online and offline tools, with face-to-face outreach activities.

Promo-LEX Election Observation Mission documented widespread irregularities, many of which are systemic and recurrent:

• abusive use of administrative resources, described as a constant and large-scale problem of Moldovan elections;
• electoral corruption and illicit financing, manifested in an organized form with external support;
• unregulated activity of third parties, especially online actors;
• involvement of religious cults in campaigning activities;
• negative campaigning and smear tactics;
• focus on geopolitics at the expense of substantive policy debate;
• absence of key leaders from televised debates, limiting genuine public discussion.

Campaign finance

The parliamentary elections were held within a framework with stricter rules on reporting and control of political financing. The CEC demonstrated a stronger commitment to the integrity of the electoral process and identified irregularities, including late reporting, incomplete donation records, and non-compliant bank use. Corrective measures and warnings were issued, but oversight remains fragmented, and transparency gaps persist.

Contestants officially reported 52.2 million lei in revenues and 44.6 million lei in expenditures (29 Aug – 21 Sep). Four contestants (PAS, Patriotic Bloc, Alternativa Bloc, PN) declared the largest sums. Promo-LEX estimated, for the same period reflected above, at least 2 million lei as undeclared spending, mostly for social media ads, promotional materials, and transport.

Complaints and disputes

Promo-LEX recorded over 80 complaints and notifications filed with the CEC, mostly on misuse of administrative resources and illegal campaigning. Many were redirected to the police, without examination on the merits by the CEC, while the results of the police examination are to be followed.

At least 13 electoral disputes reached courts, with most dismissed. Law-enforcement agencies conducted hundreds of searches linked to electoral corruption and illegal financing.

Hate speech and incitement to discrimination

Between July and 18 September, Promo-LEX identified 302 cases of hate speech and incitement to discrimination, used in the context of elections. Roughly 75% were spread via apps and social media, reaching over 6 million views.

Targets included political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, health, and ethnicity. Manifestations ranged from stereotypes and insults to direct incitement to discrimination and violence. The scale and reach of hate speech made it a significant factor undermining inclusiveness and voter trust.

Election Day

Promo-LEX deployed over 931 observers nationwide and abroad.

Opening procedures were assessed mostly positive. Voting was orderly, but systemic vulnerabilities persisted: secrecy of the vote was compromised in some polling stations, deficiencies in the voter’s lists, problematic access of candidates’ representatives and their attempts to film the voting process inside the polling stations, presence of unauthorized persons and cases of illegal agitation on the Election Day, and some cases of member’s refusal to provide copies of protocols to observers, were reported as well.

The reduction by two-thirds of polling stations for voters residing in Transnistrian region, together with last-minute relocations, severely restricted access and led to long queues. In two polling stations for voters from Transnistrian region, the ballots ran out before the polling station closed.

Election day was disrupted by bomb threats that suspended voting in some precincts, in the country and abroad. Still, counting and tabulation were assessed positively, with procedures largely respected and results transmitted transparently.

Preliminary conclusions

The 28 September elections were competitive and offered voters a choice. The election administration functioned with general transparency, and election day was well organized overall.

At the same time, elections were affected by systemic and recurrent problems: late legislative changes, restrictive registration rules, abusive use of administrative resources, electoral corruption and illicit financing, unregulated third-party campaigning, widespread hate speech, and disinformation. Decisions affecting contestants shortly before election day undermined legal certainty.

Promo-LEX reiterates its call to Moldovan authorities to address these vulnerabilities – especially the abusive use of state resources, regulation of third parties, and effective sanctioning of corruption and hate speech – so that future elections can meet higher democratic standards. A final report with detailed findings and recommendations will be issued after the completion of the electoral process.

Further Reading

This Summary Statement of findings and conclusions has been elaborated based on the Mission’s four interim reports presented prior to the Election Day, as well as on the E-Day statements presented by Promo-LEX.

Interim Monitoring Reports:

Report No. 1, Report No. 2, Report No. 3,  Report No. 4

Election Day Press Releases:

Press Release 1, Press Release 2, Press Release 3, Press Release 4