Moldova is voting in a crucial parliamentary election Sunday, which analysts say is really a referendum on whether the impoverished ex-Soviet country will pursue integration with Europe or return to Russia’s fold. Moldovans are voting for lawmakers to serve a four-year term in the 101-seat parliament.

Surveys indicate public opinion is just about equally divided between voters favoring European Union-friendly political parties and those who back parties that want to join Russia. No party is expected to gain an outright majority. Analysts say the Communist Party, led by former President Vladimir Voronin, could form a coalition with either side.

“I voted for Moldova to get rid of the problems it has seen for five years now – the corruption, the mafia that is all over Moldova, and all over our citizens, and because of which we cannot develop,” said Vladimir Voronin, leader of Moldovan Communist Party.

“I hope that something clear will come from these elections even though I don’t have great expectations. Because they [the elections] are organised in such a manner that falsifications and all sorts of games will occur, because the ones who rule the country now don’t want to leave the government under any circumstances,” he added.

Russia does not want to part ways with Moldova where it has troops stationed in the Russian-speaking breakaway region of Transdniestr.

Chisinau signed a historic agreement with the EU earlier this year despite bitter opposition from Russia. With the signing of the accord, Moldovans gained visa-free travel to Western Europe, access to a free trade zone, and hundreds of millions of euros in funding. Russia retaliated with an embargo on imports of many Moldovan foods.

Moldova, one of Europe’s smallest and poorest countries, is wedged between Ukraine and EU member Romania.

“I expect some changes after the elections. Salaries, roads, we need some changes there, said Stefan Petru, a 61-year-old voter. “People need to gain confidence in the one who they vote for. And the elected must also take care of us and look out for us. We need to make some progress towards going into Europe. If we resolve all the problems we’ll be good. This is the main thing, to have confidence in the ones who we vote for.”

“We expect a better country after this elections. A beautiful future, a European future, for our children, for our nephews and for all our country. So help us God,” said another voter Petru Croitoru.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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