The President of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D Group) Gianni Pittella expressed his support for the Democratic Party’s candidate for President Marian Lupu. According to a press release of the PDM, the MEP transmitted a congratulatory message to the Democratic leader on the occasion of the latter’s registration as a contender in the October 30 presidential elections, IPN reports.

“In my name and in the name of the S&D Group, I wish you a lot of success for the good of the people of the Republic of Moldova and its European perspective,” reads the message of the Italian MEP Gianni Pittella.

Marian Lupu responded with thanks for the support, saying that when the European Socialists support the Democratic Party, they support the Republic of Moldova and its effort to come closer to the EU. “It is a very important message for me. I’m confident that together we will more powerfully plead Moldova’s cause in the European Union and will muster more European assistance for the citizens of our state,” he stated.

The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats is the second largest group in the European Parliament. It includes the President of the European Parliament, German MEP Martin Schulz. The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini also represents the political family of the Party of European Socialists (PES) and was supported for this post by the S&D Group.

Marian Lupu received a message of support from the PES immediately after the Democratic Party’s National Political Council nominated him for President on August 31.