Romanian President Traian Basescu said Thursday that “opposition and democratic forces” had won the snap parliamentary elections in neighbouring Moldova. Bucharest was waiting expectantly on the results of Wednesday’s Moldovan election, which could help determine whether the former-Soviet republic remains in Russia’s orbit.

După procesarea a 100% a buletinelor de vot, neoficial, raportul de mandate este următorul: PCRM-48 mandate PLDM- 18 mandate PL-15 mandate PD-13 mandate AMN-7 mandate

CHISINAU, Moldova It may be the most enigmatic corner of Europe: a hardscrabble communist holdout run by a dour president who still keeps a bust of Lenin on his desk. “Europe’s largest illegal duty-free shop,” a diplomat once called Moldova, known for rampant trafficking in arms, drugs, cigarettes and sex. …