“These elections were neither free nor fair. They were the most undemocratic in the history of Moldova. After stealing from Moldovan citizens for so many years, the government has stolen their vote today as well”, stated the leaders of the Electoral Bloc NOW during a press briefing after polling stations closed, IPN reports.

NOW co-president Maia Sandu thanked all those who made time today and went to vote, with special thanks to the diaspora for their effort to reach remotely located polling stations. Maia Sandu urged the Moldovans from abroad in places where the polling stations are still open “to vote consciously, to be vigilant, and not to allow their votes to be stolen.”

Maia Sandu also said that during this election campaign the government relied heavily on administrative resources, the voters were bribed and brought to the polling stations to vote for a particular electoral competitor. At the same time, “we witnessed a campaign of denigration of the opposition through controlled media outlets, so the message of the opposition did not reach the citizens”.

Andrei Năstase, the other co-president of the bloc, said that following a dirty campaign, the Democratic Party leader Vlad Plahotniuc will again win an MP seat and “will try to hide behind his immunity in order to avoid being held accountable”. Still, Năstase looks with optimism into the future. “Today is the day when Moldova will start to change, no matter what some want. If needed, today’s vote will be protected in the street,” declared Năstase.