The mayor of Balti Renato Usatyi, fielded by Our Party, and ex-prime minister Vasile Tarlev, proposed by the Party for the Future of Moldova, have been registered as contenders in the October 20 presidential election, IPN reports.

CEC member Teodora Vanghelii said that 882 subscription lists with 25,138 signatures were submitted to the Commission in support of Renato Usatyi. The signatures of nine supporters were collected through the information system “Electronic Subscription List”. After verifying the authenticity of the data from 632 subscription lists, containing 18,056 signatures of supporters, 1,703 signatures were declared invalid. Thus, the condition to submit at least 15,000 valid signatures to the CEC was fulfilled.

CEC member Rita Lefter-Simasco said that the initiative group in support of Vasile Tarlev presented 779 subscription lists with 22,316 signatures. The signatures of three supporters were collected electronically. After verifying the authenticity of the data, out of 658 paper subscription lists containing 18,864 signatures and the three electronic signatures, 2,529 signatures were declared invalid. The legal requirement regarding the required number of signatures was respected.

The Central Election Commission registered a total of 13 initiative groups to support candidates in the presidential election. Until today’s decisions, the CEC registered two other candidates in the presidential race – former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, supported by the Party of Socialists, and President Maia Sandu, fielded by the Party of Action and Solidarity. The subscription lists brought by Ion Chicu, Irina Vlah and Andrei Năstase are being examined.

Subscription lists with signatures can be submitted by September 20. This is the day the electoral campaign begins officially.