Sawt Falasteen - Moldova votes in tense polls, torn between EU and Russia

The small European Union candidate country, which has a pro-Russia breakaway region, has long been divided over whether to move closer with Brussels or maintain Soviet-era relations with Moscow.

Most surveys ahead of the vote showed the pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), in power since 2021, in the lead. But analysts say the race is far from certain.

"I want higher wages and pensions... I want things to continue as they were during the Russian times," Vasile, a 51-year-old locksmith and welder, who only gave his first name, told AFP at a polling station in Chisinau as a steady stream of voters arrived.

Voter Paulina Bojoga, 68, said she wanted Moldova "to catch up with European countries because Europe has everything we need".

"The situation is on a knife edge," the pensioner, who has returned after having lived in Italy, told AFP, as some donned "I voted" stickers after casting their ballots.

Polling booths opened at 7:00 am (0400 GMT) and will close at 9:00 pm, with the first results expected later Sunday.

- 'Massive interference' -

The ballot is overshadowed by fears of vote buying and unrest, as well as an "an unprecedented campaign of disinformation" from Russia, according to the EU.

Moscow has denied the allegations.

Moldova's cybersecurity service said on Sunday it detected several attempts at attacks on the electoral infrastructure, which were "neutralised in real time... without affecting the availability or integrity of electoral services".

Pro-EU President Maia Sandu of PAS warned after casting her vote of a "massive interference of Russia", saying Moldova was "in danger" and "might lose everything it has won" posing "significant risk also for other countries like Ukraine".

A loss for the PAS could throw up hurdles in the push towards EU integration, launched after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Voters in the country of 2.4 million -- one of Europe's poorest -- have expressed frustration over economic hardship, as well as scepticism over the drive to join the EU.

"I voted for getting back to normal, for the development of the Republic of Moldova," Igor Dodon, one of the leaders of the pro-Russian opposition Patriotic Bloc, said after casting his vote.

The Socialist and former president has accused the government of trying to steal the vote, and reiterated a call for supporters "to peacefully protest" on Monday to "defend our victory".

In an interview earlier this week, Dodon told AFP that on foreign policy, he would "continue discussions, negotiations with the EU, but we will also re-establish relations with the Russian Federation".

- Turnout decisive -

The government has accused the Kremlin of spending hundreds of millions in "dirty money" to interfere in the campaign.

In the lead-up to the vote, prosecutors have carried out hundreds of searches related to what the government says are "electoral corruption" and "destabilisation attempts", with dozens arrested.

Foreign interference and threats of stirring up unrest are "the most significant risks," according to Igor Botan, the head of Moldovan think tank Adept.

Turnout will be decisive -- especially in the large and powerful diaspora, which tends to vote PAS, and in the breakaway region of Transnistria, which leans pro-Russian, analysts say.

Turnout at 1100 GMT stood at just over 30 percent. In the last parliamentary election in 2021, final turnout was 52.3 percent.

Some 20 political parties and independent candidates are running for the 101 parliamentary seats.

Botan said the result is "very difficult to predict".

"Post-election negotiations to form an alliance (to govern) are highly likely, and here too, things are unclear," he said.

J.AbuHassan--SF-PST