Moldova’s pro-European Union ruling party won a decisive lead in parliamentary elections, bolstering its bid to steer the country firmly toward Brussels and away from Moscow’s orbit. With more than 99% of votes counted, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) secured 49.99% of the vote, compared with 24.28% for the Russia-leaning Patriotic Bloc. Other groups entering parliament include the pro-European Alternative bloc with about 8% of the vote, and the populist Our Party with 6.2%. On election day, Patriotic Bloc co-leader and former president Igor Dodon alleged without evidence that Sandu planned to annul the results, and called for protests outside parliament. Moldova at a crossroadsAuthorities warned of possible unrest if the Patriotic Bloc lost, pointing to what they described as Russian-backed efforts to destabilize the country.