The investing of the Filip Government, protests, direct presidential elections after a period of about 20 years and other events marked the year 2016. At yearend, IPN News Agency presents the most important events of each of the 12 months of the year.
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Key event of October: Holding of direct presidential elections after a pause of about 20 years.

On October 3, the parliamentary alliance didn’t come to the Parliament sitting where the no confidence motion submitted by the Socialist, Communist and Liberal-Democratic MPs was to be examined. Consequently, the bills for which the Filip Government assumed responsibility were declared adopted.

Also on October 3, it was announced that the Political Movement “Ravnopravie” (“Equality of rights”) became the Shor Party. Ilan Shor in a statement issued then said given that the parties in Moldova are associated with their leaders, they decided that the party he heads will bear his name.

On October 15, the Political Council of the Political Party “Platform Dignity and Truth” confirmed the PPPDA leader Andrei Nastase’s decision to withdraw from the race for the presidency in favor of the head of the Party “Action and Solidarity” (PAS) Maia Sandu. According to Andrei Nastase, the decision was a conscious one and was taken in the interests of the country and all the people. Maia Sandu was also supported by the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova.

On October 22, the candidate of “Ravnopravie” Movement (Shor Party) Inna Popenko was excluded officially from the race for the presidency amid accusations of voter corruption and non-reporting of all the costs incurred in the election campaign.

On October 26, the Democratic Party’s candidate Marian Lupu decided to withdraw from the race for the presidency. Marian Lupu said such a decision was taken in a move to help a person who will continue the common European project to become Head of State.

On October 30, there was held the first round of the presidential elections. In this, Socialist Igor Dodon polled about 48% of the vote, while PAS leader Maia Sandu approximately 38%. The candidate of “Our Party” Dumitru Chubashenko gained 6.03% of the vote, the candidate of the European People’s Party Iurie Leanca - 3.11%, the Liberal Party’s candidate Mihai Ghimpu – 1.8%, independent candidate Valeriu Giletski – 1.08%, independent Maia Laguta – 0.75%, independent Silvia Radu – 0.4% and candidate of The Right Ana Gutu – 0.17%. The voter turnout was 49.03%.

Selection by Mariana Galben, IPN