ASSESSMENTS

Moldova's Elections Could Shift the Country's Focus East

Oct 18, 2018 | 09:00 GMT

Moldovan President Igor Dodon (left) speaks during a joint conference with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at the Kremlin in Moscow on Jan. 17, 2017.

Moldovan President Igor Dodon (left) speaks during a news conference with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at the Kremlin in Moscow on Jan. 17, 2017. Upcoming elections could result in Moldova moving away from the West.

(ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty Images)

Highlights

  • A Moldovan parliamentary election at the beginning of 2019 could shift the country further into Russia's orbit.
  • While Moldova is unlikely to pivot away from the European Union completely, the results of the election could freeze or reverse the integration process with the European bloc.
  • In a bid to diversify its political and economic relationships, Moldova could strive to strengthen ties with other regional players, such as Turkey and China, after the polls.

As the Russia-West standoff continues unabated over Ukraine, a lesser-known -- yet no less intense -- competition is playing out between Moscow and the West over next-door Moldova. While Moldova pales in comparison to the size and population of Ukraine (Moldova has roughly 3.3 million people in a territory the size of Maryland), its significance belies its small stature. Now, parliamentary polls this coming February could do much to shift the balance of power in this standoff in favor of Russia....

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