Maia Sandu casts a vote in Chisinau, Moldova, on Sept. 28. Photo by Andrei Pungovschi / Photographer: Andrei Pungovschi/

(Bloomberg) — Moldova’s ruling pro-European party is on track to win re-election, keeping the country on the path to European Union membership and raising the risk of an escalation in tensions with Russia.

President Maia Sandu’s Action and Solidarity Party got 50.1% of the votes, retaining its majority for a second term, according to preliminary results from 99.8% of precincts. The pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc led by former President Igor Dodon came second with 24.2%. Three other forces are poised to enter parliament.

The next government will have to continue reforms needed to meet the goal of joining the EU by the end of the decade.

Once certified as fin

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