The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published its final report on Moldova’s parliamentary elections held on 25 September 2025. While the elections offered voters clear choices among competing political alternatives, the process was marred by foreign interference, illicit financing, cyber-attacks, and widespread disinformation. Despite these challenges, the election administration conducted preparations professionally and efficiently, and candidates campaigned freely, though in a highly polarized political environment.
Decisions issued just days before the elections to bar two parties over alleged illegal funding limited the right to an effective remedy for those contestants. Voters’ ability to make informed choices was further hindered by partisan media coverage, limited investigative reporting, and pervasive disinformation on social networks. Nonetheless, the conduct of election day itself was reported as well-organized, calm, and transparent.
ODIHR’s final report provides nineteen recommendations aimed at bringing Moldova’s election processes closer to OSCE commitments and international standards. Key recommendations include revising the legal framework to ensure clear evidence supports candidate de-registrations, enhancing coordination and transparency among state agencies to combat disinformation and cyber threats, promoting a code of conduct for political parties and candidates, and improving mechanisms to prevent misuse of public resources and vote-buying. The report also advises removing restrictions on voting rights for people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities.
The observation mission, which operated from 15 August to 8 October 2025, also assessed follow-up on prior ODIHR recommendations from the 2021 parliamentary elections, 2023 local elections, and the 2024 presidential election and constitutional referendum. The evaluation found nine recommendations fully implemented, twelve mostly implemented, and twenty-one partially addressed, with others still outstanding. ODIHR underscores the importance of all OSCE participating States promptly following up on these assessments to strengthen election integrity in Moldova.
