Moldova’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, is on course for a decisive majority in parliament after Sunday’s elections, held under the shadow of alleged Russian interference.

With most of the 1.6 million votes counted, PAS had secured around 50%, well ahead of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc (PEB) on less than 25%. Turnout reached 52%, higher than in recent years.

The result puts PAS on track to claim about 55 of the 101 parliamentary seats, allowing it to govern alone. Four years ago, the party won 52.8% of the vote.

Sandu told voters beforehand that the country’s “young and fragile” democracy was at stake and accused Moscow of seeking to destabilise Moldova’s EU aspirations.

The election was marred by a series of bomb scares reported at polling stations both inside Moldova and abroad, including in Italy, Spain, Romania, and the United States. Three people were arrested on suspicion of plotting unrest, while police claimed Russian-backed groups were behind the threats. Russia denied the accusations, accusing Moldova and its allies of trying to distract from domestic problems.

Opposition leader, Igor Dodon, from the PEB, rejected the outcome, claiming victory before any results were released and calling for protests outside parliament. His bloc was weakened when one party was barred from running just two days before the vote over alleged illicit funding.