The results showed that Moldova’s main pro-European parties won a huge victory in parliamentary polls, which strengthened the president’s hand when former World Bank economist Maasandu pushed for reforms in her former Soviet country.

Sunday’s early elections—convened by Sandu in April to support her position against pro-Russian forces—see her center-right Action and Solidarity (PAS) party with 52.80% of the vote.

The Central Election Commission said on Monday that the PAS will obtain 63 seats in the 101-seat parliament for a four-year term, and all votes have been counted.

The Union of Socialists and Communists led by former President Igor Doton, backed by the Kremlin, ranked second with 27.17%.

After preliminary results showed that her party took the lead late on Sunday, Sandu changed what she called voting for a country plagued by poverty and corruption.

“I hope that today will be the end of Moldova’s difficult times. I hope that today will end Moldova’s thieves’ rule,” she said in a statement.

Her competitor, Doton, expressed disappointment with the results, saying in a statement: “We obviously want a higher overall percentage.”

He congratulated his opponent, but warned that his troops will pay close attention because it is dangerous for a political party to “completely monopolize Moldovan politics”.

Doton said at a press conference on Monday, “This is democracy, and people want to change”, but expressed concern about the ability of reformers to govern the country.

“New Politician”

Between Ukraine and Romania, a member of the European Union, this country of approximately 2.6 million people has long been divided because of closer ties with the EU or maintaining Soviet-era relations with Moscow.

In 2014, Moldova and the European Union signed an agreement to establish a closer relationship, but high levels of corruption and lack of reform hindered the country’s development. The country ranks 115th among 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2020 Corruption Perception Index.

As lawmakers loyal to 46-year-old Doton blocked Sandu’s promise of reform after winning the election in November, she dissolved the parliament and arranged for a quick vote.

The 49-year-old former World Bank economist’s commitment to honesty and competence resonated with many Moldovans who have seen their country shaken by political crises and corruption scandals in recent years.

“I am very happy that the new politicians are here. I hope they can do something for people, not just for themselves,” 57-year-old bus conductor Katerina Zhevelik told AFP in Chisinau on Monday.

“I hope these people will not steal, and will not be spoiled by power, but will remain honest and decent people,” she said.

The Ombudsman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said on Monday that the vote was “competitive and functioning well”.

However, they pointed out that “worries about the fairness of the electoral authorities have weakened trust, and imperfect campaign financial rules have led to unresolved potential irregularities.”

The United States congratulated and urged the Moldovans to address the concerns of the OSCE.

“We are committed to strengthening our partnership with Moldova on the basis of common democratic values, and we look forward to working with the new government to develop our bilateral relationship,” said State Department spokesperson Ned Price.

‘Symbol of change’

Despite Sandu’s victory, analysts said the president’s political party still faces challenges.

“This is a test for Sandu and her government,” a political analyst and the country’s former UN special envoy Alexei Tulbray told AFP.

Tulbure said: “This administration will have to quickly show that it is more effective than the previous administration” and began to push forward reforms.

He said that Sandu, who was briefly prime minister, has become a “symbol of change” for many Moldovans.

Vadim Pistrinchuk, executive director of the Chisinau-based Institute for Strategic Initiatives and former Congressman, told the Associated Press that the election results were “historic.”

“This is the first time a pro-European party needs a complete [parliamentary] Majority,” he said, but added that if the reformists fail to achieve change, it will bring “great disappointment.”

The Moldovan diaspora—accounting for more than one-third of the country’s eligible voters and widely supported Sandu during the presidential election—voted more than 200,000 votes, compared with a record 262,000 votes in the second round of the presidential election.

Observers have said that the victory of the Sandu Party will deal a blow to Russia, and Russia hopes that Moldova will stay within its sphere of influence.

Independent analyst Victor Ciobanu said: “Even with a majority in Parliament, it will not be easy to implement her ambitious plan for in-depth changes.”

He said that the pro-Russian side will “strongly oppose.”

“If all three succeed, then this will be an undisputed break with Russia,” Turbray said.