Moldovas Election of a pro-Russian President: Implications for Europe
In November 2016, Moldova elected Igor Dodon as president in the first presidential elections since 1996. In his campaign, Dodon promised to restore Moldova’s relations with Russia and possibly revoke the Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union.
He also promised to improve relations with Transnistria, a de facto state within Moldova in which Russia deploys around 1,500 to 2,500 troops. In March Dodon sent a request to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) to grant Moldova to become an observation country to the union. However, the powers of the president in Moldova are limited, and it is not certain that Dodon will have the chance to implement all of his policies. What is the likelihood of Moldova leaning more towards Russia, and what possible effects could such a change have on Europe?
