Moldova's president says her country's voters refused to be bought by Russia

Moldova's pro-western president, Maia Sandu, has hailed voters' refusal to be "bought" by Moscow after her ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority in Sunday's pivotal election, bolstering the tiny country's aspiration of joining the EU and distancing itself from Russia's influence.

- Pjotr Sauer

"We did not allow ourselves to be bought, intimidated or frightened," she said yesterday. "We mobilised and defended our country through honest, democratic choice.

"Throughout this campaign, the Kremlin sought to divide us, to undermine our trust - in the state, in our institutions, in one another, and in our ability to resist. This election showed that, yes, we have vulnerabilities, but also capable institutions and dedicated people."

Sandu said the vote, from the country of 2.4 million, was a "strong mandate" to join the EU.

With more than 99.9% of ballots counted, her pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) had 50.03% of the vote, putting it on track to win 55 of the 101 seats in parliament. That compared with 24.26% for a Moscow-leaning alliance of Soviet-nostalgic parties led by the former president Igor Dodon.

PAS outperformed the polls, which predicted it would stay the largest party but could lose its majority - a result that could have derailed Sandu's push for EU membership within a decade.

The result is a significant victory for Sandu, who has staked her presidency on a pro-European course and accused Russia of deploying underhand tactics to sway voters in the impoverished country squeezed between Ukraine and Romania.

Power is shared in Moldova between the directly elected president and a prime minister appointed by parliament. Igor Grosu, the PAS leader and a close ally of Sandu, is expected to become prime minister.