NO PARTY secured a majority in Moldova’s parliamentary elections, near-final results showed yesterday, leaving the country’s government stuck in limbo between pro-Western and pro-Russia parties.

The national electoral committee reported that the pro-Russia Socialist Party, allied to Moldovan President Igor Dodon, took the most votes at 31 per cent, while the pro-Western Acum (26 per cent) and Democratic parties (24 per cent) came in second and third.

The result sets the stage for prolonged coalition talks, though the Acum group has pledged not to enter a coalition with the Socialists or the Democrats.

Moldova’s voting system had been changed to elect representatives both on party lists and individually, in what critics say is a ploy to help the two main parties — the Socialists and the Democrats.

Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe reported  that fundamental rights had been “generally respected” but the election was “tainted by allegations of pressure on public employees, strong indications of vote-buying and the misuse of state resources.”