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.