The delegation of the European People’s Party (EPP) Group in the European Parliament urges the candidates of the pro-European political parties to withdraw from the presidential race and encourage their supporters to vote for the joint candidate Maia Sandu in the upcoming presidential elections of October 30, Sandra Kalniete MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group responsible for Eastern Neighborhood and Enlargement, stated in a news conference in Chisinau. According to her, polls show that Maia Sandu is the pro-European candidate with the biggest chances of winning the presidential elections, IPN reports.
“These elections are very important for the Republic of Moldova. That’s why we wanted to observe this process. Now the Republic of Moldova will decide whether to follow the path to renovation or to take steps backward. However, if we look at the status of the President, this mandate will not have a very big impact as the President will play a rather symbolic role. This will yet show the direction in which he wants the country to develop. That’s why it is very important for all those who see the future of Moldova in association with the European Union to consolidate to support one pro-European candidate,” said Sandra Kalniete.
She also said that for Moldova’s good reputation, it is very important for these elections to take place as transparently and correctly as possible. “We receive a lot of complaints about frauds committed already in the campaign and want to make a request to Moldova’s administration, to the authorities that supervise the election process to monitor it as closely as possible so as not to allow frauds,” stated the MEP.
MEP Laima Andrikiene told the same news conference that the presidential elections will be monitored by a number of international institutions, including such large financial institutions as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. “That’s why it is important for us and for you too to show that fair elections are possible in Moldova. Given that Moldova signed the Association Agreement with the EU, it is obliged to ensure transparent and correct elections,” stated Laima Andrikiene.
The members of the EPP Group delegation, which visited Moldova this week, also said that any fraud allowed in elections can mean that conditions for the representation of the people are not created in the Republic of Moldova.
