Politics in Europe > Sandu's precarious position in Moldova; Samantha Power admits millions sent to Moldova for political purposes

 

As Maia Sandu’s approval ratings collapse and opposition grows bolder, the September elections may redefine the country’s path between East and West

Moldova is heading into its most consequential election in decades, and the stakes could hardly be higher. With parliamentary elections set for September 28, President Maia Sandu’s pro-EU government faces growing discontent, sagging approval ratings, and a surge of opposition anger – both in the streets and in the courts.

What began in 2020 as a hopeful project of reform and Western integration is now mired in economic crisis, corruption scandals, and an increasingly authoritarian style of governance.

The jailing of opposition figures, crackdowns on Russian-language media, and a widening cultural divide have turned Moldova into a political battleground between East and West – between promises of a Western European future and calls to return to a policy of neutrality. As Sandu’s ruling Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) fights to hold its majority, Moldova’s fragile democracy is approaching a critical test: can it deliver change without losing legitimacy?

The rise and stall of Maia Sandu’s presidency

When Maia Sandu swept to power in 2020, she brought with her the hopes of a nation weary of corruption, stagnation, and geopolitical limbo. A former World Bank economist with a reputation for integrity, Sandu promised to chart a new course – one that would steer Moldova away from its oligarchic past and toward a European future. Her Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) soon gained a parliamentary majority, allowing her to consolidate power and push through ambitious reforms.

For a brief moment, it worked. Sandu’s technocratic image and Western credentials won praise not only from pro-EU voters but also from moderates and even some traditionally pro-Russian Moldovans who were tired of business as usual. The country secured EU candidate status in 2022, and for the first time in years, Moldovan politics seemed to have a clear direction.

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But three years later, the mood has shifted dramatically. A growing number of Moldovans believe that Sandu has overpromised and underdelivered – and the numbers reflect it. According to recent polls, 34.9% of respondents now disapprove of her performance, while only 30.6% express support. Her once-untouchable image has been eroded by street protests, rising prices, and accusations of political overreach.

The early glow of reform has faded into frustration. From 2022 to 2024, waves of protests swept through Chisinau and other cities, with demonstrators demanding lower utility costs, government subsidies, and in some cases, Sandu’s resignation. Chanting “Down with Maia Sandu,” many took to the streets not as die-hard Russophiles, but as ordinary citizens who felt abandoned by the very leaders they had helped elect.

Meanwhile, opposition parties – long fragmented and discredited – have begun to regroup. Their message is simple: the Sandu experiment has failed. And for many Moldovans, that claim is starting to ring true.

Continue reading this somewhat lengthy but very informative piece on RT at:

The economy that turned against her

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US spent ‘tens of millions’ in Moldova

– former USAID chief

Samantha Power has admitted that Washington financially supported the pro-Western candidate that won the last presidential election

Former US Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power © Alex Wong / Getty Images

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) invested tens of millions of dollars in Moldova to support pro-EU President Maya Sandu, former USAID chief Samantha Power has admitted in a call with Russian pranksters.

Speaking to the famous duo Vovan and Lexus, who apparently pretended to be Western officials, Power recalled that under her leadership, USAID made “unprecedented investments” in Moldova and “massively” expanded its presence in the country.

She recalled that in the USAID supplementals designated for Ukraine, there was always “tens of millions of dollars” earmarked for Moldova and noted that these funds “went much more further in Moldova than in Ukraine” given the country’s small size.

However, she bemoaned the fact that US President Donald Trump has halted all spending on the country since coming into office and dismantled USAID. Trump had previously said the agency was run by “radical lunatics” and officially dissolved it last month, with the remnants being absorbed into the State Department.

Power added that the halt in funding to Moldova was particularly concerning ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country, noting that Sandu had only narrowly managed to retain her post in the last election. Power described Sandu as a “democratic bright spot,” recalling that she had graduated from the Kennedy School of Harvard University.

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Power suggested that with Trump going to the sidelines on Moldova, it was now up to Europe and people like French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to step in and play a more “important” role.

Power’s comments come as Sandu’s government has faced mounting accusations of eroding democracy by banning opposition parties and cracking down on Eurosceptic politicians and journalists. Earlier this month, Moldovan authorities also sentenced Gagauzia Governor Evgenia Gutsul, who advocated for closer ties with Russia, to seven years in prison.

Russia has slammed Sandu and her government as blatantly Russophobic for targeting politicians and media that favor better relations with Moscow. Russian officials have also condemned Gutsul’s arrest as evidence the EU was forging a “liberal dictatorship” in Moldova.

Russian comedians Vladimir Kuznetsov and Aleksey Stolyarov, known by their nicknames Vovan and Lexus, are famous for deceiving high-profile public figures into making awkward remarks during conversations they believed would remain private. 

Over the years, dozens have fallen for their trickery, including former US President George W. Bush, the late US statesman Henry Kissinger, former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, former British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and many others.