The Party of Socialists’ candidate for President Alexandr Stoianolgo said that the only honorable solution is not to replace journalist Gheorghe Gonța, but for Maia Sandu to propose one more moderator, "who would meet all the criteria of loyalty and personal devotion, which the current political government considers essential." The reaction comes after Maia Sandu's team said that the journalistic community and the opponent’s team should agree a moderator, IPN reports.

"I regret to note that once again an essential and mandatory component of any democratic competition – public debates between candidates – is endangered under new pretexts. This time, the reason invoked to disrupt the debate is the organized campaign of personal discrediting and, de facto, a public lynching of journalist Gheorghe Gonța, who was proposed as a possible moderator. Society has witnessed a new example of how, under the guise of European integration, real harassment and information terrorism - methods characteristic of totalitarian regimes - are carried out. I see this campaign as a clumsy attempt by Maia Sandu's team to avoid debates," said Alexandr Stoianoglo.

The candidate noted that his initial proposal for the debate included the participation of two moderators: one on behalf of Maia Sandu's team and one on his behalf. In his opinion, this format could have ensured the necessary balance, eliminating any suspicion about the fairness and impartiality of the competition. However, his opponent proposed to have one moderator and accepted the candidacy of Gheorghe Gonța.

Maia Sandu's team  Stoianolgo accepts any moderator for the debate with Alexandr Stoianoglo and asks the Press Council to propose the journalist. The clarification was made this morning, following the statement issued on Tuesday by the Press Council and the announcement by a number of television channels that they will not broadcast the debates if they are moderated by Gheorghe Gonța. The controversy in the journalistic environment did not make Maia Sandu's staff to reject the candidacy of Gonța, proposed by Alexandr Stoianoglo's team, and Maia Sandu will go to the debate with any moderator agreed by the Council and coordinated with the opponent.