With the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova scheduled for September 28, 2025, the issue of electoral corruption has once again come to the forefront of public debate. The REALITATEA media group spoke with citizens in Chisinau to hear their views on whether they had encountered the phenomenon and how they believe it impacts political life.
Some respondents admitted openly that vote buying and manipulation persist:
“Of course it exists, there is evidence, we cannot deny this fact. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is supported from outside, by the Russian Federation,” said one man, adding that he had heard of specific cases where voters were offered money.
Others argued that corruption in elections does not always come in the form of direct bribery:
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“It doesn’t necessarily have to be money or goods. It can also be through false promises. For example, promising gas at an impossibly low price — that is also electoral corruption,” explained a young man.
Several citizens expressed concern that the problem is systemic and deeply rooted, especially among vulnerable groups:
“This has penetrated very deeply into society, into people’s hearts, especially among the poor. Only if society develops economically, politically, and socially will the problem decrease naturally,” noted another participant.
The parliamentary elections will decide the 101 members of Parliament, chosen through proportional party-list voting. The electoral campaign officially begins on Friday, August 29.