Latest news with #parliamentaryelection
Washington Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Top EU officials head to Moldova for key summit ahead of a pivotal parliamentary election
BUCHAREST, Romania — The European Union's top officials will travel to Moldova's capital on Friday for a key bilateral summit to strengthen ties months before the EU candidate member holds a pivotal parliamentary election. Moldova's pro-Western President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Dorin Recean will host the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa in Chisinau. Talks will focus on EU membership, security and trade. The leaders are expected to issue a joint statement afterward. Brussels agreed to open accession negotiations with Moldova for EU membership last year after granting official candidate status in June 2022, the same day as neighboring Ukraine. Some observers say Hungary's opposition to Ukraine's EU membership could hamper Moldova's progress, since both countries' applications are being processed concurrently. 'Moldova is now at the most advanced stage of European integration in its modern history,' said Daniel Voda, Moldova's government spokesperson. 'The path toward the EU has become clear, irreversible, and politically embraced at the highest level.' Brussels is keen to reaffirm its commitment to Moldova joining the 27-nation bloc with the approach of a parliamentary election Sep. 28. Allegations continue to circulate about Russia conducting a 'hybrid war' against the former Soviet republic by interfering in elections and spreading disinformation. Moldova's pro-Western government led by the Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, has been in power since 2021. Moldova watchers have warned the upcoming parliamentary vote is in Moscow's crosshairs. The summit's agenda states EU leaders will reiterate their 'unwavering commitment' to Moldova's sovereignty and security in the face of 'Russia's continued hybrid attacks.' Moscow has denied meddling in Moldova. Radu Magdin, a political analyst at Smartlink Communications, said the joint summit is 'of top symbolic importance' and could bolster support for PAS in the upcoming elections. 'The elections are pivotal, as a PAS government majority or a PAS-led coalition can be more credible for Brussels in terms of genuine intention of reform,' he said. 'The main threats to Moldova's accession process is any EU state opposition to Ukraine's entry.' Moldova's membership in the EU is conditional on the country enacting reforms in policy areas, known as chapters, in areas such as the rule of law, fundamental rights and economic reforms, a process that will likely take years. To support such reforms, Brussels is providing Moldova with up to 1.9 billion euros (about $2.2 billion) between 2025 and 2027. 'EU accession is not just a destination,' said Voda, the government spokesperson. 'It's a profound change for the benefit of the people.' President Sandu was reelected in a heated election last year that saw her beat a Russia-friendly opponent in an election cycle beleaguered by claims of Russian interference and voter fraud. Moldovans last year also voted narrowly in favor of securing the country's EU path. ___ McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.
Associated Press
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Top EU officials head to Moldova for key summit ahead of a pivotal parliamentary election
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — The European Union's top officials will travel to Moldova's capital on Friday for a key bilateral summit to strengthen ties months before the EU candidate member holds a pivotal parliamentary election. Moldova's pro-Western President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Dorin Recean will host the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa in Chisinau. Talks will focus on EU membership, security and trade. The leaders are expected to issue a joint statement afterward. Brussels agreed to open accession negotiations with Moldova for EU membership last year after granting official candidate status in June 2022, the same day as neighboring Ukraine. Some observers say Hungary's opposition to Ukraine's EU membership could hamper Moldova's progress, since both countries' applications are being processed concurrently. 'Moldova is now at the most advanced stage of European integration in its modern history,' said Daniel Voda, Moldova's government spokesperson. 'The path toward the EU has become clear, irreversible, and politically embraced at the highest level.' Brussels is keen to reaffirm its commitment to Moldova joining the 27-nation bloc with the approach of a parliamentary election Sep. 28. Allegations continue to circulate about Russia conducting a 'hybrid war' against the former Soviet republic by interfering in elections and spreading disinformation. Moldova's pro-Western government led by the Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, has been in power since 2021. Moldova watchers have warned the upcoming parliamentary vote is in Moscow's crosshairs. The summit's agenda states EU leaders will reiterate their 'unwavering commitment' to Moldova's sovereignty and security in the face of 'Russia's continued hybrid attacks.' Moscow has denied meddling in Moldova. Radu Magdin, a political analyst at Smartlink Communications, said the joint summit is 'of top symbolic importance' and could bolster support for PAS in the upcoming elections. 'The elections are pivotal, as a PAS government majority or a PAS-led coalition can be more credible for Brussels in terms of genuine intention of reform,' he said. 'The main threats to Moldova's accession process is any EU state opposition to Ukraine's entry.' Moldova's membership in the EU is conditional on the country enacting reforms in policy areas, known as chapters, in areas such as the rule of law, fundamental rights and economic reforms, a process that will likely take years. To support such reforms, Brussels is providing Moldova with up to 1.9 billion euros (about $2.2 billion) between 2025 and 2027. 'EU accession is not just a destination,' said Voda, the government spokesperson. 'It's a profound change for the benefit of the people.' President Sandu was reelected in a heated election last year that saw her beat a Russia-friendly opponent in an election cycle beleaguered by claims of Russian interference and voter fraud. Moldovans last year also voted narrowly in favor of securing the country's EU path. ___ McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Albanian preliminary polls results show a clear win for the ruling Socialists
TIRANA, Albania — Preliminary results in Albania's parliamentary election on Tuesday give a clear victory to the ruling Socialist Party which attracted voters supporting the country's uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama's bid for a fourth term. With about 96% of the votes counted, Rama's left-wing Socialists got 52.09% of the votes, or 82 seats in the 140-seat Assembly, or Parliament, followed by the opposition center-right Democratic Party-led coalition of Sali Berisha with 34.44%, or 52 seats. Three other small parties will take the rest.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Albanian preliminary election results show Socialists ahead
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Preliminary results in Albania's parliamentary election on Monday showed the ruling Socialist Party ahead, with voters supporting the country's uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama's bid for a fourth term. With a quarter of the votes counted, Rama's left-wing Socialists have 53% of the votes, followed by the opposition center-right Democratic Party-led coalition of Sali Berisha with 35%. With those numbers the Socialists will get the required 71 seats to govern alone and likely even more than the previous mandate. Preliminary turnout Sunday was almost 42.16%, or 4% lower than four years ago. About 3.7 million eligible voters in Albania and abroad voted to elect 140 lawmakers for a four-year mandate in the Balkan nation. Because of mass emigration, the country of 2.8 million people has about 3.7 million eligible voters. For the first time, those in the diaspora, about 191,000, could vote and cast their ballots by mail. Ilirjan Celibashi, the head of the Central Election Commission, said that Sunday's vote was largely peaceful, with some irregularities involving candidates and some of their supporters that would not negatively impact the results. 'For the most part, excluding some sporadic cases, the process has been in line with the rules and standards,' he said Sunday evening after the voting ended. Rama's Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years — end the negotiations until 2027 and wait for approval from each of the EU's 27 member countries until 2030 — which is an ambitious pledge while battling conservative opponents with public recriminations and competing promises of pay hikes. Rama, 60, who secured the start of EU membership negotiations last October, highlighted achievements in infrastructure and justice reform in his campaign. The Socialists say they will accelerate a tourism boom, and increase foreign visitors from 10 million arrivals in 2024 to 30 million by 2030, by diversifying destinations through the expansion of infrastructure projects. Rama also has pledged pension and pay hikes. Rama's main challenger is Sali Berisha, 80, a former president and prime minister, who argues that Albania still isn't ready for EU membership. Berisha held an electoral campaign resembling that of U.S. President Donald Trump, also hiring one of his top campaign consultants. More than 570 international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe monitored the election, highlighting the international community's stake in ensuring a credible and transparent process.
