The Democratic Party’s candidate Marian Lupu decided to withdraw from the race for the presidency. The announcement was made by the candidate in a press briefing today, October 26. Marian Lupu said it is a decision based on political responsibility, sociological analysis and professional expertise, IPN reports.

Marian Lupu noted that he took such a decision because he wants to help a person who will continue the common European project to be chosen as Head of State. “The message I transmit to the voters is to support the pro-European candidate with chances to remain in the race and with real chances of beating the Socialist candidate in the second round of voting,” he stated.

The chairman of the PDM also said that the percentage difference between him and the candidate of the Party “Action and Solidarity” Maia Sandu is insignificant, but in the runoff elections Sandu will have bigger chances of winning against the Party of Socialists’ candidate Igor Dodon. “The objective of the PDM is not simply to win an electoral competition. The goal is for the elections to be won by the pro-European candidate with the biggest chances in the runoff vote,” stated Marian Lupu.

In the same press briefing, first deputy chairman of the PDM Vlad Plahotniuc said this decision may seem shocking, but for the Democratic Party it is calculated, logical and based on the major interest of the country and excessive polarization on the political arena of Moldova. “By this decision, we want to strengthen the country’s European course and, surely, to make the country’s modernization irreversible,” he stated.

According to Vlad Plahotniuc, by the decision to withdraw Marian Lupu from the presidential race, the PDM showed that it is able to take not at all easy decisions that are yet responsible.