Common right-wing candidate for Moldovan president office asks authorities take needed actions for all citizens to be able to vote in runoff

Chisinau, 1 November /MOLDPRES/ – The candidate for the head of state on behalf of Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), Dignity and Truth Platform Party (PPDA) and Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) Maia Sandu has asked today the authorities to take all necessary measures "to ensure that citizens can exercise their right to vote in runoff of the presidential elections."

"In the first round of presidential many young people and students did not vote because they were not allowed to exercise their right in the areas where they study. In the existing circumstances, I request the Parliament to adopt urgently in both readings, the draft law initiated by Valeriu Ghiletchi which would let students vote in localities where they study. If Parliament does not do this, then it is the competence of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to issue a decision to act like this," said Sandu.

However, PAS leader urged CEC to facilitate the Parliament and the voting procedure in the Diaspora and to permit Moldovan citizens to vote with valid ID cards because many people are abroad with the passport of some foreign countries and do not have Moldovan passports. Also, the common candidate of the right-wing forces suggested CEC to "open more polling stations in the Diaspora where in the first round of presidential elections were registered queues at polling stations."

According to the candidate, these requirements can be achieved because at the  parliamentary elections in 2014 young people had the right to vote in the areas of their studying, and in the first round CEC admitted citizens living abroad to vote whose passport had expired term.

On 30 October, none of the electoral candidates, out of total nine, enrolled in the presidential race, accumulated at least half of electors’ votes participating in elections. According to the Electoral Code in such situations, it will take place the second round for the two candidates who registered the most votes. These are candidate of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) Igor Dodon (48,22%) and the common right-wing candidate Maia Sandu (38,43%).

The direct presidential elections runoff will be held on 13 November 2016.