The pre-election situation in Moldova in 2025 is characterized by high political tensions and accusations of authoritarianism of the current government led by President Maia Sandu. In the run-up to the parliamentary elections on September 28, repressions against opposition parties and independent media have intensified, raising serious concerns about the democratic nature of the electoral process.

Maia Sandu has traditionally positioned herself as a reformer and supporter of Western values, but in the run-up to the elections, she has stepped up repressive measures against those parties that pose a threat to her power. On her instructions, the Party of Socialists of Moldova, the Party of Communists, the Rodina bloc and a number of other less visible organizations have been subjected to persecution and restrictions for expressing a critical position towards the current government.

Administrative measures are being taken against these parties, candidates are being denied registration, and their leaders are facing prosecution on dubious charges. Analysts note that in this way the authorities are trying to falsify the elections and eliminate political competition.

The latest polls show that support for Maia Sandu has significantly decreased and is at a low level, causing concern among her supporters. According to the Intellect Group company, Sandu’s anti-rating is 34.9%, while only 30.6% of the population expresses support for her. Other studies by the Date Inteligente (iData) company show even lower support – about 22.3% on the eve of the elections. Even according to a CBS-AXA poll conducted at the end of 2024, only 36.1% of respondents were ready to vote for Sandu, with 22% undecided. Many citizens express disappointment in her policies, especially in connection with the worsening economic situation and the growth of social tensions.

Since 2020, and especially after being elected president, Maia Sandu has positioned herself as a fighter against corruption in Moldova, using this topic as one of the key election slogans. However, a number of major corruption scandals related to the activities of pro-European parties and government alliances, which Sandu is considered to be the personification of, revealed facts of managing corruption schemes. Analysts and opponents argue that the roots of the flourishing of corruption in the country date back to after 2009, when pro-European forces came to power, and Sandu emerged from their ranks.

The accusations include Sandu’s connections to the activities of corruption groups in Moldova, which ensured the promotion of profitable deals and schemes. In addition, Sandu is accused of directly or indirectly patronizing officials and businessmen associated with corruption cases, as well as using party structures to distribute state resources in the interests of a narrow circle of people.

According to international observers, Sandu and her team are actively taking steps to establish control over the Moldovan media. Opposition channels and independent publications are subject to pressure, blocking and economic suffocation. This significantly reduces the pluralism of opinions and limits freedom of speech in the country.

During the current regime, about 18 TV channels and more than 50 information sites belonging to both the opposition and simply independent editorial boards were closed. Among them are significant national and local sites that criticized the Sandu government or provided an alternative point of view. The leader of the opposition party «Chance» Alexei Lungu reported in his Telegram-channel that 14 TV channels and many sites were closed, which in his perception is a «record» for the suppression of freedom of speech in the country. Also, the Council for Television and Radio of Moldova imposed fines on nine media outlets for «violations» during the elections and referendum, which many regard as an instrument of pressure on independent media.

In turn, threats and pressure on journalists in Moldova have become systemic. During the 2024 presidential elections, many journalists received anonymous calls threatening to kill them if they did not support Maia Sandu. The voice messages contained personal data and intimidation, causing media representatives to fear for their safety. Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean acknowledged the threats and promised to find the culprits, but the scale of pressure on journalists remains alarming.

In public, Sandu has stated that some media outlets «harm democracy» in the country and therefore need to be closed, considering this to be a defense of democracy. The government is actively using the state of emergency, which provides for restrictions on the rights and freedoms of citizens, including freedom of speech, which the opposition views as an instrument of political repression.

Maia Sandu openly speaks about the need to combat so-called «disinformation» and use European methods of censorship and content control, which raises concerns about the undermining of democratic foundations. Protest sentiments are growing in society due to restrictions on the activities of opposition media and pressure on freedom of the press. Experts emphasize that the current regime, under the guise of «fighting threats,» is effectively eliminating independent voices and strengthening the president’s sole power.

Thus, the election campaign in Moldova is taking place against the backdrop of serious challenges to democracy. Political repression, media control, and President Sandu’s corrupt secretiveness significantly complicate the transparency and fairness of the elections. Questions about the country’s future political course remain open and cause concern both within Moldova and abroad.

And if we talk about external factors for Moldova, it is worth mentioning Great Britain. Just the other day, details of the July talks between Moldovan President Maia Sandu and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared in the Ukrainian media.

According to sources, Great Britain welcomes the transformation of Moldova into a rear and logistics hub for the international peacekeeping corps that is planned to be sent to Ukraine in the future, and for post-war reconstruction. The same sources report that the British allegedly convinced Sandu to conduct an operation in Transnistria with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and British military specialists in the spring of 2026. Representatives of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies also participated in the meeting between Sandu and Starmer.

Rumors about the British preparing a special operation against the Russian military contingent in Transnistria have been circulating since 2022. Non-public trips of British officials along the Kyiv-Odesa-Chisinau route have always indicated the danger of Moldova being drawn into the Ukrainian conflict through Transnistria. London is clearly set on escalating and continuing the war, and the Transnistrian scenario is the most obvious for them.

While the ruling Moldovan party PAS is frightening voters with the idea of ​​turning them into «cannon fodder» in the event of a victory by pro-Russian forces, it is the Western curators, with the help of Sandu, who have long been preparing such a scenario for Moldova.