The 2025 Romanian presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova: Voting behaviour, public perception, and contextualisation

This study provides a critical analysis of the 2025 Romanian presidential elections, focusing on their unfolding and public reflection within the Republic of Moldova. Interest in these elections grew significantly among Romanian citizens residing in Moldova. The May 2025 vote followed a prolonged and intricate electoral process that began in 2024 and concluded with the annulment of the second round in December of that year. Intense public debate, the sustained visibility of the issue on the national agenda due to its implications for the Republic of Moldova, and the controversial ascent of the nationalist-sovereigntist movement collectively contributed to a marked increase in voter turnout. This study aims to analyze the voting behavior of Romanian citizens residing in the Republic of Moldova during the 2025 presidential elections. It further seeks to explore the significance, public perception, and impact of these elections - both in terms of their influence on the electoral process and their implications for the Republic of Moldova’s European trajectory.