Once again, a people has chosen to turn its back on Russia and free itself from its imperialist grip. It will certainly not be the last.
For the third time, Moldovans confirmed their choice of the European model by voting in the parliamentary elections on September 28. They gave a majority to the political party and President Maia Sandu, who have brought the country closer to the European Union.
However, the Russian services did not hold back in their interference in the election. Millions of euros were spent on corruption and vote buying; the entire arsenal of totalitarian cheating was used. But in vain.
Putin's Russia continues to be the most malicious actor on the continent and will likely push its henchmen to contest an election that gave twice as many votes to the Europeans of Moldova as to Moscow's cronies. We can expect attempts at destabilization and a smear campaign, as is customary for the Kremlin, with a level of bad faith that is unimaginable in a normal democracy.
The question of Russian-organized separatism in Transnistria remains to be resolved. It should be solvable within Europe, as the motivations for this secession and the simply mafia-like expression of this desperate undertaking seem to have no future.
The lesson of this election is threefold:
For Moscow, it's “Hands off” Europe! “Let the people choose their destiny”!
For Europeans, it is proof that the European Union is still a source of hope, even if those who live within it are disillusioned and do not always appreciate the benefits of belonging to the world's largest democratic entity. Europe is attractive, whatever its detractors may say.
For Trump, who could finally see Putin's harmful influence and pull himself together by unflinchingly assuming the role of leader of the free world that he seems to reject.
To everyone, the people of a small nation of 3 million inhabitants has just taught us a valuable lesson.
