In July 2021, the pro-Western Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) won early parliamentary elections, capturing almost 53% of the vote and obtaining 63 out of 101 seats. This marked a turning point, as it was the first time since the 1990s that a grassroots party, untangled from oligarchic circles and untouched by corruption, acquired complete control over the country.
Although the Moldovan economy rebounded in 2021, increasing 13.9% compared to 2020, GDP growth halted in 2022 due to the Russian-Ukrainian war and the energy crisis, coupled with a 20-year-high inflation. However, 2022 saw a 63.5% surge in exports compared to 2021, driven by increased re-exports.
Due to pro-European reforms by PAS, Moldova officially became an EU candidate state in June 2022. However, the government faced significant challenges stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent energy and refugee crisis. These put a strain on the inexperienced, understaffed administration and overstretched Moldova’s national budget, which remains one of the poorest countries in Europe.
