With 99.52 percent of ballots counted, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) had 50.03 percent of the vote, compared with 24.26 percent for the Patriotic Bloc, which opposes closer ties with the European Union, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The distribution of seats suggests PAS could secure the majority it needs in the 101-seat parliament to avoid forming a shaky coalition and keep Moldova’s EU membership bid on track, the Reuters news agency reported.
Other parties set to enter parliament include the nominally pro-European Alternative bloc, with 8.1 percent, and the populist Our Party, with 6.2 percent.
An official final tally is expected later on Monday.
Ahead of the election, President Maia Sandu’s government warned that Russia was attempting to sway the vote through disinformation campaigns and vote-buying.
In the days before the ballot, election officials barred two pro-Russian parties from running, citing allegations of illegal financing.
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Source: Reuters, IAR, PAP