The European parliament's political groups have welcomed the result of Moldova's elections, with the country's three pro-European parties set to have 56-58 seats between them, while pro-Russian parties have won an estimated 43-44 seats of the 101 available in total.
Turnout for the election was just under 56 per cent of a total of 2.7 million eligible voters. It is expected that the pro-European parties, in one form or another, will create a coalition government that will seek closer ties with the European Union and continue with the previous government's reform plan.
"I am confident that it will be possible to build a strong pro-European coalition [in Moldova] that will continue to implement the necessary reforms"- Knut Fleckenstein
Knut Fleckenstein, the S&D group's spokesperson on foreign policy, praised the election and was hopeful that it would trigger important political reforms, saying, "I am confident that it will be possible to build a strong pro-European coalition that will continue to implement the necessary reforms".
Fleckenstein's S&D colleague and group spokesperson on the Republic of Moldova Tanja Fajon was similarly satisfied with the outcome of the recent election. Fajon said, "I am happy that the elections in Moldova were conducted peacefully and conformed to democratic standards".
ALDE MEP Petras Auštrevičius, who is parliament's rapporteur on Moldova, also welcomed the election results and asked for the three pro-European parties to work together, saying, "I would like to wish our Moldovan friends […] to build up the new government in a constructive and swift manner also bearing in mind the geopolitical situation in the region".
Moldova has been under increasing pressure from Russia to join their regional block instead of pursuing closer ties with Europe. In light of these election results and the development of an EU-Moldova association agreement, Moldova has been hit with a ban on agricultural exports to Russia.
However, Greens/EFA MEP Igor Šoltes, who led the European parliament's delegation to observe the elections, praised the management of the election but highlighted the structural shortcomings of its process.
Šoltes called on Moldova to adopt a, "legislative framework that would strengthen and promote media freedom and plurality, and the particular importance of working on transparency of media ownership".
And finally, in a joint statement the EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and commissioner for European neighbourhood policy Johannes Hahn welcomed the election results, while also drawing attention to the internal political situation regarding the breakaway region of Transnistria.
The pair stressed that that the, "EU remains committed to work with the future government towards a comprehensive peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova with a special status for Transnistria".
Moldovan pro-EU parties are currently in negotiations to form a new coalition government.