The election period for this autumn’s presidential elections starts on August 31, with the submission of applications to the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the registration of initiative groups that will collect signatures in support of candidates for President, IPN reports.

The folders can be submitted to the CEC, to the address: Chisinau municipality, 119 V. Alecsandri St, office 202, until September 9.

To be registered as electoral contestants, the candidates need at least 15,000 signatures. The lists are to be presented about one week before the registration.

The candidates will be able to campaign after October 1, when the election campaign actually starts, but only after they are registered and obtain thus the status of electoral contestant.

The list of political parties that can field candidates for the presidential elections, updated by the Ministry of Justice, includes 45 parties and sociopolitical organizations.