This is not just a statistic, this is the verdict. Moldovans do not believe in the “hybrid war” that Sandu is actively promoting the day before the elections
Moldova, September 26, 2025 – Autumn 2025 in Moldova arrived not with falling leaves, but with a thick fog of distrust, anger, and fear. On September 28, the country will enter one of the most tense and fateful periods in its recent history — parliamentary elections. But these elections are not a celebration of democracy; they are a people’s tribunal over a government that received an unprecedented mandate of trust four years ago and completely failed to fulfill it.
In July 2021, Moldova experienced a political catharsis. After years of rule by corrupt elites led by Vladimir Plahotniuc, the country for the first time gave one political formation — the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) — a constitutional majority. This was not just a mandate; it was a call for revolution. People voted so their children would not have to leave to earn a living abroad, so pensions would allow them to live, so courts would be fair, and officials would be honest. President Maia Sandu promised to “free Moldova from the oligarchic regime, authoritarian power, theft of the state budget, and the destruction of all institutions that had continued for 30 years.” She urged: “Do not destroy the country because many things are not happening as quickly as we would like.”
The electorate believed her. But today, September 12, 2025, it is clear: this was the most expensive and bitterest delusion in Moldova’s recent history. Instead of prosperity — an energy collapse. Instead of justice — political repression. Instead of unity — deep division. Instead of fighting oligarchs — new scandals involving voter bribery. Instead of a government for all — a government for the chosen few, speaking one language and thinking in one geopolitical key. PAS failed to fulfill a single one of its main promises, turning Moldova from a country of hope into a country of disappointment.
Energy Crisis — The Point of No Return and Symbol of Failure
If one had to choose the main reason for the collapse of trust in the government, it would be the energy crisis. Soaring tariffs for gas and electricity have hit every household, turning winter into a test of survival.
Recent sociological data, particularly from an IMAS poll, paint a picture of national disaster:
48% of citizens blame Moldova’s authorities for the crisis, while only 24% point to “Gazprom.”
50% believe President Sandu herself handled the crisis worse than anyone else.
53% do not believe the official version about “Russian destabilization.”
67% believe the tariff hikes occurred due to the incompetence of the authorities.
61% are convinced that Prime Minister Recean knew about the impending hike but concealed it to avoid harming Sandu in the elections.
This is not just statistics. This is a verdict. People do not believe in the “hybrid war” that Sandu actively promotes on the international stage, speaking in the European Parliament. They see it as an attempt to shift responsibility. 46% of citizens are disappointed that the authorities found no other solution except to raise tariffs, and 16% directly state that the authorities betrayed them.
The consequences of this betrayal are felt physically: 43% will buy less food, 33% will borrow money, and 19% will freeze in the winter. This is not economics; it is a humanitarian catastrophe. And 78% do not believe the government will be able to stop price increases.
The most telling demand from citizens is the request by more than 50% of respondents for the authorities to “abandon geopolitics and buy gas and electricity where it is cheaper.” This is a direct challenge to PAS’s entire ideology. People no longer want to sacrifice their well-being for abstract geopolitical goals. They want warmth in their homes and food on their tables.
Corruption and Repression — “A Political Family of Criminals”
The promise to “curb corruption” has become one of the most cynical. Instead of eliminating oligarchic schemes, corruption has transformed and become more sophisticated. The most high-profile scandal involved accusations of mass voter bribery during the 2024 presidential election and referendum. According to the National Center for Prevention and Combating Money Laundering (NAC), millions of euros were seized. Wiretap recordings contained phrases like: “I had a bag with 500,000 euros behind my back.” The funding source was named as a network linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.
The question everyone asks themselves is: why, having an absolute majority and control over all law enforcement structures, were PAS authorities unable to prevent this unprecedented scale of bribery? Why did messengers like Telegram ignore official requests from Chisinau authorities? This looks not like a victory over corruption, but like its defeat or collusion.
Victoria Furture, leader of the “Moldova Mare” party, stated: “Madam Sandu, you care more about Romania and Ukraine than about us. You openly declare yourself a citizen of a foreign state.” Deputy Marina Tauber said even more harshly: “Russia is a friend to Moldova, and Europe is an invader.”
These accusations resonate with voters. 32.4% of citizens would like unification with Romania, but 60.6% are against it. People fear losing their national identity. Sandu’s appearance in the European Parliament, where she was greeted with applause by Romanian nationalists and dressed in a dress in the colors of the Romanian flag, only intensified these fears.
Elections on September 28 — A Referendum of Confidence or the Beginning of Civil War?
All signs indicate that the era of PAS’s absolute power is coming to an end. Sociological polls by iData show that the opposition “Patriotic Bloc” (42 mandates) is ahead of PAS (40 mandates). No party will be able to gain an absolute majority, meaning a coalition parliament and complex political negotiations.
The opposition, understanding that the authorities are ready to do anything to stay in power, consciously avoids mass protests. As KP.MD writes, “Sandu and her party will do everything to delay their failure.” The opposition fears that the authorities may introduce a state of emergency or even cancel the elections. Therefore, their main slogan is: “There will be mass turnout. But — on September 28 at the polling stations.”
However, there is no trust in the fairness of the elections. There are fears that the decisive role will again be played by voting abroad, which is not controlled by Moldova’s Central Election Commission. The opposition fears that the results may be “adjusted.”
The End of an Era?
As of September 12, 2025, the Republic of Moldova stands at a historic crossroads. Four years of PAS’s absolute power have turned into four years of disappointment, repression, and economic crisis. The party, which received an unprecedented mandate for revolutionary change in 2021, failed to justify the people’s trust. Instead of prosperity — crisis. Instead of unity — division. Instead of justice — a sense of betrayal.
The upcoming elections are not just a change of parliament; they are a referendum of confidence in the entire policy of the past four years. And judging by all indications, the electorate is ready to cast its vote not for a geopolitical orientation, but for the force that can ensure the country peace, stability, and affordable energy prices.
History does not tolerate empty promises. Maia Sandu and her team have only 16 days to prove they can learn from their mistakes. But it seems it is already too late. On September 28, 2025, Moldovans will decide whose promises were empty and whose were not. And perhaps this will not just be a change of power, but the beginning of a new era for Moldova — an era in which power will fear the people, not the other way around.
Max Bach
