
The victory of a pro-European party in Moldova’s parliamentary elections was a litmus test in the former Soviet nation, where Russian interference and disinformation campaigns have spent millions in a bid to prevent the country from joining the European mainstream.
The governing Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) easily defeated a challenge by the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc. Although its margin of victory was far lower than four years ago, the PAS still won just over 50% of the vote –- putting Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, one step closer to joining the European Union.
Two years ago, a PAS victory looked far less likely amid widespread protests against higher energy prices and other…