Almost half of the citizens old enough to vote in the Republic of Moldova went to polls on Sunday to elect a new president. It’s a first in the past 20 years as the head of state used to be elected the Parliament so far.
Therefore, two candidates will race for the runoffs on November 13: the Socialst leader Igor Dodon, who had 48.26% of the votes after counting 99.33% of the recording of proceedings and Maia Sandu, the sole pro-European candidate endorsed by the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), Dignity and Truth Platform Party (PPDA) and the Liberal Democrat Party (PLDM), who obtained 38.42%.
After counting 92.23% of the records in the Capital of Chisinau, 48.58% of the voters voted for Maia Sandu and 41.97% for Igor Dodon.
100% of the votes have been counted in those 18 suburbs of the capital city. In Buiucani, Ciocana district and downtown, as well in those 17 out in 18 suburbs Maia Sandu is leading.
The Socialist Igor Dondon was voted in two of the five districts of the Capital, Botanica and Rascani and in town of Cricova.
In region Calarasi, Dodon’s home, Maia Sandu won the most of the votes, 51.81%, while the Socialist leader only 37.13%. However, Igor Dodon obtained 56.37% in Sadova, his native village, deschide.md. reports.
In exchange, in region Falesti, where Maia Sandu was born, it was Igor Dodon who ranked first, with 58.15%, compared to Maia Sandu, who got 22.78%. Maia Sandu won 52.19% in her native village, Risipeni.
As for the Liberal leader Mihai Ghimpu, former interim President of the republic, he obtained only 148 votes in his native village, Colonita, Unimedia informs.
Dodon on relation with Romania: “Business is business”
The pro-Russian Socialist candidate Igor Dodon said after casting his vote that Romanians are the Moldovans’ ‘friends’. ‘neighbors’ and ‘brothers’, but “business is business” ( using a Romanian idiom translated in English by “one hand will not wash the other for nothing”), while reiterating he is against any union with Romania.
“I have never been, I am not and I will not be anti-Romanian. But I will always be anti-unionist. Any unionist movements in R. of Moldova are breaking the law, in my view,” said the Socialist leader while retorting a question on how he sees the relationship with Romania if he wins elections and becomes president of the Republic of Moldova.
“I have voted today against those who have been in power over the last seven years. I have voted against oligarchy, against the destroyers of the banking system and the country, of those who have despised the people (…) I have voted for a prosperous Moldova, for a Moldova where our children have a nice future, for a Moldova where our parents, pensioners, can feel the State needs them,” said Dodon, adding that he is convinced he will win the election right away and so there will be no second round.
Maia Sandu: Moldova needs a president who will unite citizens
In her turn, Maia Sandu said that Moldova needs a president who will unite the citizens instead of disuniting them, while voicing hope the election will provide a fair and honest president to Moldova.
“I have voted for a fair and honest president who will represent us and promote the interests of hard-working people, of the people who want to live in Moldova, a president who unites us all instead of keeping us apart, who will not threaten to chase us out from the country, a president who wants this country to prosper and where everybody can enjoy bountifulness,” said Sandu.
The PAS leader called on voters to turn out to fight against corruption. “I want to tell all Moldovans do not be afraid; come out and vote today, and let us clean up Moldova together. This is a very important election. We have proved that common people, people with few resources but with common sense and good intentions can make a difference. Let us take another step forward, show up to vote and prove to the corrupted ones that we are strong, that we are many and we will prevail,” said Sandu.
Moldovan PM Pavel Filip: We hope our country will remain on our pro-reform, pro-Europe path
“I am proud to be the Prime Minister of a country whose citizens cherish democracy. Moldovans have shown their respect for a free and fair democratic process and rule of law by voting in the first direct presidential election in twenty years.
I hope that the results of the first round of elections, followed by the run-off vote on November 13th, bring about both positive change and continued stability to Moldova. We hope our country will remain on our pro-reform, pro-Europe path.
Our government is committed to working with the next president – no matter who is elected– to maintain peace and stability and keep Moldova on a democratic path. We look forward to working together in Moldova and with our neighbors to continue to grow as a country,” says PM Pavel Filip in a statement by the Democratic Party of Moldova.