CHISINAU. Nov 2 (Interfax) - Former Moldovan Prime Minister nominated for president by the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) Maia Sandu and incumbent Moldovan President, independent candidate Igor Dodon will be standing in the runoff presidential election.
According to the preliminary voting results published by the Central Elections Commission (CEC) after processing protocols from 99.8% of polling stations (2,138 out of 2,143), Sandu surpassed Dodon in the first round.
The CEC said Sandu gained 36.03% of the vote, as against 32.7% gained by Dodon. The incumbent president was leading with approximately the same result after votes were counted at 95% of polling stations, but the standing changed in the morning after votes were counted at 139 polling stations abroad. The vast majority of voters who came to polls abroad supported Sandu. Besides, Our Party leader Renato Usatii also surpassed Dodon in the elections held abroad. In addition, Sandu won the election in four out of five sectors of Chisinau.
In the end, Usatii ranked third with 16.98% of the vote. He is followed by Violeta Ivanov (6.5%), DA Platform Party candidate Andrei Nastase (3.26%), National Unity Party candidate Octavian ?icu (2.01%), Liberal Democratic Party Tudor Deliu (1.37%), and UNIREA Electoral Bloc candidate Dorin Chirtoaca (1.2%).
About 1.347 million voters (about 43%) came to polls. The election was declared valid, as the turnout exceeded the required third of eligible voters.
The runoff election will be held on November 15. There is no minimal election threshold in that round.