The number of candidates for the presidency will diminish considerably because not everyone will manage to collect at least 15,000 signatures, the leader of the European People’s Party of Moldova Iurie Leanca stated in the program “Emphasis on today” on TVR Moldova channel, IPN reports.

“It’s not so simple to collect 15,000 signatures. To do this, one needs to have local bodies. On September 30, we will know the candidates and it will be easier for the voters,” explained the politician.

Leanca made it clear he could vote for the candidate of the Party “Action and Solidarity” or for that of the Party “Platform Dignity and Truth” if one of these reaches the second round of voting together with the Socialists’ candidate Igor Dodon. “Regretfully, the situation in the Republic of Moldova makes us vote geopolitically. What Igor Dodon does divides society even more,” he stated.

Asked if the first deputy chairman of the Democratic Party Vladimir Plahotniuc is involved in the banking frauds, Leanca avoided giving a clear answer. “It is the state institutions that must verify all the statements and must take the necessary measures if there is no evidence. I’m not an accuser. They said many untrue things about me and in 99 of the cases this was done intentionally,” he said.

Speaking about Moldova’s union with Romania, Leanca expressed his regret at the fact that some try to exploit this subject to gain political advantages. “We are one people, but two countries. The people from the two sides of the Prut have the right to decide. I, when I held the post of Premier, did my best to bring the two countries closer,” stated the politician.