(MENAFN) American analyst Darren Spinck has warned that Moldova’s government is weakening democratic institutions under the guise of advancing European Union integration, presenting voters with a false choice between “democracy” and “authoritarianism.” Writing in National Interest, Spinck suggested that Moldovans will face parliamentary elections next month and a choice between strict alignment with Brussels or a more pluralistic system emphasizing national sovereignty, similar to the vision promoted by former US President Donald Trump.

President Maia Sandu has argued that Moldova’s EU path depends on her remaining in power, labeling opposition figures as “pro-Russian” to justify her government’s actions. Moscow has accused her of sacrificing Moldova’s national interests for Brussels.

Spinck highlighted Chisinau’s history of barring opposition candidates and suppressing media outlets linked to political rivals, noting that these actions have contributed to Moldova’s declining score on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index. He described the country as a “frontline state” between two competing visions of democracy: sovereignty-focused, tradition-rooted governance promoted by Trump’s administration, and technocratic liberalism championed by Brussels.

Opinion polls indicate voters are mainly concerned with domestic issues like corruption and inflation, and opposition parties could prevent Sandu’s ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) from winning an outright majority in September. Spinck argued that the U.S. must reconsider whether to follow previous policies supporting Sandu, or instead engage constructively with the parties that succeed in forming the next government, prioritizing pluralism, tradition, and civil liberties over blind loyalty to Brussels.

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