The deadline by which applications can be submitted to the Central Election Commission for registering initiative groups for collecting signatures in favor of aspirants for President expired on September 9. A number of 24 applications were presented overall. This could be the number of candidates in the October 30 presidential elections if these manage to collect at least 15,000 signatures from supporters by September 29, IPN reports.
The lawyers for Veaceslav Platon, who is investigated for swindle and money laundering, submitted an application to have an initiative group registered in his name. The CEC is to take a decision, but the legislation provides that the applicants must come in person at the electoral authority. If the application is accepted, Platon can be the 25th aspirant for the office of President.
Sixteen initiative groups have been registered so far.
Applications to have initiative groups registered have been submitted by: Marian Lupu, Igor Dodon, Iurie Leanca, Mihai Ghimpu, Dumitru Chubashenko, Maia Sandu, Andrei Nastase, Ana Gutu, Valeriu Giletski, Roman Mihaes, Oleg Brega, Ilie Rotaru, Ion Dron, Vitalia Pavlichenko, Mihai Corj, Artur Croitor, Silvia Radu, Vadim Branzan, Mihail Garbuz, Anatol Plugaru, Ina Popenko, Vasile Tarlev, Maia Laguta, and Georgeta Savitski.
Marian Lupu, Mihai Ghimpu and Iurie Leanca already presented the collected signatures to the CEC. On September 10, the electoral authority will pronounce on the registration as election runner of Marian Lupu, who submitted the signatures the first.
