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A pro-Russia candidate came out top in Moldova's presidential election, according to incomplete results issued early Monday which left it unclear whether he could beat his pro-EU rival in the first round.
Ex-Soviet Moldova went to the polls Sunday in its first popular presidential election since the 1990s, seen as a tug-of-war between supporters of closer relations with Russia and those seeking EU integration.
With more than 95 percent of the ballots counted, pro-Moscow candidate Igor Dodon was well ahead, on 49.2 percent, teetering on the brink of an outright win which would avoid the need for a run-off second round vote.
His main rival, the pro-European Maya Sandu, was on 37.5 percent while none of the other seven candidates had crossed the five percent threshold, according to the incomplete results.
Less than half of registered voters -- 48.97 percent -- cast their ballot, the electoral commission said after polling booths closed at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT).
"I would like to thank the voters for their active participation in the election. The main conclusion is that voters no longer believe in this government (...) Our victory is inevitable," Dodon, 41, said at a press conference.
The crisis-hit country of 3.5 million wedged between Ukraine and Romania is the poorest in Europe and has struggled with a string of high-profile corruption scandals which have overshadowed the vote.
The presidential candidates presented diametrically opposed visions for the country's future: calling for deeper ties and boosting trade with Moscow, or committing to the path toward Europe.
Voters are leaning in opposite directions as well.
"We can't be without Russia, that's our export market" that could provide cheap gas, said Igor Lopukhov, 66, a Russian-speaking pensioner who voted for Socialist Party candidate Igor Dodon, a leader in opinion polls who has vowed to restore cooperation with Moscow.
Former education minister Sandu, a strong proponent of EU integration who is supported by younger Western-leaning Moldovans, thanked her supporters and predicted a second-round run off between her and Dodon.
"See you at the second round," she said, after the polling stations closed but before any results were announced
The complete election results are not expected until later Monday. A second round vote, if required, will take place on November 13.
(AFP)
