The European Social Democratic Party (PSDE) fielded former defense minister Valeriu Plesca as a presidential election candidate. The announcement was made on Wednesday at a news conference, IPN reports.

PSDE leader Ion Sula said that after the party decided that it will have its own presidential candidate, a number of candidacies were considered, both from the party and from outside. “As a result of discussions and consultations with party members, the PSDE’s Standing Bureau at yesterday’s meeting decided to nominate Mr. Valeriu Plesca for the position of President of the Republic of Moldova. Mr. Valeriu Pleșca is a lawyer and an economist by profession. Over time, he asserted himself as a good professional, manifesting an active civic position, occupying high positions in the state. He is a businessman, a successful man and a good family man,” said Ion Sula.

For his part, Valeriu Plesca said that for him the political environment is not something new. He previously served as a lawmaker, party leader, minister of defense, etc. “I’m firmly convinced that I can, I know and, last but not least, I’m responsible for what I say and I assume it. The European Social Democratic Party has a European connotation and not only because of its name, but also because of its fraternal relations with parties in the European space. We undertake, both I and the PSDE, to reach this election, to win, to strengthen our country’s path in the European space,” stated the ex-minister.

On the website of the Public Services Agency, Valeriu Plesca appears as the chairman of the political party Christian Social Union of Moldova.