Presidential elections declared valid in Moldova

More than 2.8 million Moldovans are expected today at the ballot box for the first direct presidential election since 2000. The polling stations have opened at 07:00hrs. There are 2,082 such stations in the country as well as 100 abroad, mostly in Italy, Romania and Russia. They close at 21:00hrs, local

Vying for the presidency of Moldova are nine candidates: Mihai Ghimpu of the Liberal Party (PL); Iurie Leanca of Moldova's European People's Party (PPEM); Dumitru Ciubasenko of Our Party (PN); Maia Sandu of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS); Igor Dodon of the Party of Moldova's Socialists (PSRM); Ana Gutu of the Rightist Party, as well as independents Silvia Radu, Maia Laguta and Valeriu Ghiletchi.

Marian Lupu of Moldova's Democratic Party (PDM) and Andrei Nastase of the Dignity and Truth Platform (PPDA) withdrew their bids and endorsed Maia Sandu. If no candidate secures a majority of the votes cast, the two best ranked candidates will face off in a run-off electionon November 13.

Elections in Moldova are regulated by a Central Electoral Commission (CEC) made up of nine members, eight of whom are appointed by Parliament along proportional representation lines, and one is appointed by the President. About 4,000 Police officers have been mobilised to keep watch over the electoral process and keep public peace at polling places. They will also report on and substantiate any violations of the electoral legislation happening over 100 m around the polling stations.

There are 3,202 national poll observers form 20 organisations and 562 international observers monitoring the unfolding of the presidential election.

More than 40 percent of Moldova's voters on Sunday turned out to vote in the country's presidential election as of 16:00hrs, local, according to Chait of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Alina Russu. 

More than 1,14 million people cast their ballots at over 2,100 polling stations opened both in the country and abroad. 
The highest turnout was reported in the district of Ocnita ( 41 percent), while the lowest was reported in the Gagauzia Autonomous Territorial Unit (less then 30 percent).

 CEC data show that 35 percent of those who voted were aged between 56 and 70 years, and another 25 percent of them were aged between 31 and 55 years.