Early election results point to a hung parliament in Moldova, splitting the vote between pro-Western and pro-Russian forces at a time when the ex-Soviet republic's relations with the European Union have soured.
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The current government wants closer EU integration and warns of catastrophe if the country falls back into Russia's sphere of influence.
But corruption scandals and worries over the health of its democracy have tarnished the country's image and weakened the appeal of the pro-Western political class.
The opposition Socialist Party, which favours closer ties to Moscow, took a slight early lead at 29.5 per cent, with 30 per cent of votes counted on Sunday.
The ruling pro-Western Democratic Party trailed with 28.8 per cent, while an opposition bloc called ACUM, campaigning to fight entrenched corruption, was third with 22 per cent.
An inconclusive election or one marred by allegations of fraud could tip the country back into instability just as it has recovered from a $US1 billion ($A1.4 billion) banking scandal in 2014 and 2015.
If the results are split, it could set the stage for weeks of coalition talks or another election.
"If no one has a parliamentary majority, I think that there will be attempts to form it but the risk is high that it could come to a snap election in the coming few months," President Igor Dodon told reporters.
On Saturday, Dodon, the former Socialist Party chief, called the campaign "one of the dirtiest in our entire history".
He and leading opposition figures have threatened to launch street protests and raised concerns about vote-buying.
Australian Associated Press
