Pro-Moscow candidate Igor Dodon has seized nearly 15-point lead in Moldova's presidential election, with 75 percent of the vote counted.

Dodon had 57.25 of the vote in an election where he promised to restore ties with Moscow. His rival Maia Sandu, an ex-World Bank official who ran on an anti-corruption ticket, was polling 42.75 percent.

Dodon has tapped into popular anger about corruption under the pro-European government that came to power in 2009, particularly over about $1 billion that went missing from Moldovan banks before 2014 parliamentary elections.</s>CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Near final results show a clear victory for a pro-Russian politician in a presidential race that many Moldovans hope will rekindle ties with Moscow.

With 99.9 percent of the votes counted early Monday, Igor Dodon won 52.3 percent of the vote, while Maia Sandu who ran on an anti-corruption ticket, had 47.7 percent.

Moldovans celebrated his victory with fireworks early Monday in the semi-autonomous Gagauzia region, where many ethnic Russians live.

Dodon promised he would be a president to all Moldovans. He tapped into popular anger over the approximately $1 billion that went missing from Moldovan banks before the 2014 parliamentary elections.

He wants to restore ties with Russia, which placed a trade embargo on Moldovan wine and fruit after it signed an association agreement with the European Union.</s>A pro-Russian candidate for president of Moldova is all but certain to win the race, preliminary results showed on Sunday, following a campaign in which he vowed to slam the brakes on seven years of closer integration with the European Union.

With 90 percent of votes counted, online results showed Socialist candidate Igor Dodon had won 55.9 percent, and his pro-European challenger, Maia Sandu, had 44.1 percent.</s>CHISINAU, Moldova — Near final results show a clear victory for a pro-Russian politician in a presidential race that many Moldovans hope will rekindle ties with Moscow.

With 99.9 of the votes counted early Monday, Igor Dodon won 52.3 of the vote, while Maia Sandu who ran on an anti-corruption ticket, had 47.7 .

celebrated his victory with fireworks early Monday in the semi-autonomous Gagauzia region, where many ethnic Russians live.

Dodon promised he would be a president to all Moldovans. He tapped into popular anger over the approximately $1 billion that went missing from Moldovan banks before the 2014 parliamentary elections.

He wants to restore ties with Russia, which placed a trade embargo on Moldovan wine and fruit after it signed an association agreement with the European Union.</s>Pro-European candidate of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) in the presidential elections of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has requested on Sunday the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrei Galbur, and of the chair of the Central Electoral Committee (CEC), Alina Russu, for ‘obstructing the right to vote’.

“In London, at the Stratford polling station (no. 336), the ballots have run out, while hundreds of citizens are waiting outside to vote,” said Maia Sandu on her Facebook account.

“I request the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the of the chair of the Central Electoral Committee, as the main culprits for this disaster,” the pro-European candidate added.

She also said that she will file a criminal complaint against the two dignitaries “for obstructing the right to vote of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova as guaranteed by the Constitution.”

In an earlier post on the same social media account, the pro-European candidate urged people that for every obstructed vote abroad, they “call home” and “bring two votes in the country”.

“They cannot steal as much as we can vote!”

Pro-European candidate of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) in the presidential elections of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has drawn attention on the long queues in some polling stations in the diaspora and urged people that for every obstructed vote abroad, they “call home” and “bring two votes in the country”.

“The people of the diaspora are sitting in enormous queues to vote!,” Maia Sandu posted on Facebook, attaching two pictures to the text that show queues of hundreds of people waiting to vote abroad.

“In some polling stations abroad the number of ballots is dwindling. Don’t leave. And for every vote obstructed outside the country, call home and bring two votes here, in the country!,” the pro-European candidate also wrote.

“They cannot steal as much as we can vote!,” she ended her message on Facebook.

Earlier, after expressing her right to vote around noon, Maia Sandu said she is convinced that if the elections are fair, she would become the country’s next president.

She stated that she hopes the second round of voting will not be defrauded in favor of her competitor, socialist Igor Dodon.

“I am counting on the vigilance of all those who are voting, on the vigilance of observers. If the elections are fair, then we will win,” said Maia Sandu.

The press in Chisinau talked on Sunday about the long queues at several of the polling stations opened abroad by Moldovan authorities, but also about a massive mobilization of Moldovan citizens from Transnistria that crossed the Nistru river in order to vote for their president.

Igor Dodon, the pro-Russian candidate of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) and Maia Sandu, the pro-European candidate of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), are facing off in the second round of the presidential election that is taking place on Sunday in the Republic of Moldova and that is considered crucial for the country’s future.

Dodon: “I believe citizens want country going in different direction” than current government

The citizens of the Republic of Moldova want the country “going in a different direction”, “better” than that followed by the current government, said, on Sunday, after exiting the polls, the pro-Russian socialist candidate in the presidential elections, Igor Dodon.

“Today is a historic day for the Republic of Moldova. Tomorrow we start a new page in modern history. I voted for the future of our country. I am firmly convinced that Moldova has a future. Moldova will be a country with integrity, an independent, sovereign country. I voted for the future of our children, of all in this country,” said the candidate of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), who came to the polls with his wife and three boys.

“I voted against those who governed in the past seven years. I voted against oligarchs, I voted against those who want to destroy the Republic of Moldova, who want to destroy the stateness of our country,” he added, declaring his conviction that he will win “by a large margin.”

Asked about the statement of Prime Minister Pavel Filip that said he wants the future president to “move in the same direction as the Government”, Igor Dodon, who mentioned previously he is in favor of early parliamentary elections if he becomes president, said that the “citizens of the Republic of Moldova want the country going in a different direction,” one that is “better” for them.

“We saw the direction they (e.n. – the governing coalition) moved towards. I believe the citizens of the Republic of Moldova want the country going in a different direction, a direction that is better for citizens. That is why, I promise I will be a President for all citizens, regardless if they are left-leaning or right-leaning. Our purpose is to do all that is possible so that life in the Republic of Moldova gets better and it will be better,” said the socialist candidate, who mentioned previously, on several occasions, his desire for closer ties with the Russian Federation.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Pavel Filip, has expressed on Sunday his hope that the new President of the country will collaborate with the Government to implement reforms drawn up until now.

“I hope very much that the newly elected President do without electoral rhetoric, collaborate with the Government, firstly learn for himself all the things the Government managed to do until now. In this period we have a road map drawn up, now we have an agreement with the International Monetary Fund and we are in deep negotiation with the World Bank,” said Prime Minister Pavel Filip, after casting his ballot in the second round of the presidential election of the Republic of Moldova.

“I wish very much and I hope that the new President will move in the same direction as the Government, because we have very important reforms drawn up and these reforms must be implemented, taken to completion, firstly in the interest of Moldovan citizens,” the head of the executive in Chisinau added.

The IMF has approved on Monday a program with the Republic of Moldova on a period of three years. The IMF agreement provides for access to approximately 182 million dollar.

Basescu: I voted for candidate who stated throughout campaign support for R. Moldova’s European path

Former Romanian President Traian Basescu voted on Sunday in the second round of the Republic of Moldova presidential elections, stating that he put the voting stamp on the candidate who stated constantly throughout the campaign support for the European path of the Republic of Moldova and closeness to Romania.

Basescu came to the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Bucharest together with his wife, Maria, who expressed, in her turn, her electoral option.

“I am a citizen of the Republic of Moldova. I voted for the candidate who all throughout the campaign claimed support for the European path of the Republic of Moldova and closeness to Romania. Categorically, faced with a choice between Dodon and Maia Sandu any person who wishes the well-being of the Republic of Moldova will opt for Maia Sandu. Dodon proposes the cancellation of the association agreement with the EU, which means the citizens of the Republic of Moldova will lose their right to free circulation in the EU. Dodon proposes accession to the Customs Union [e.n. – now called the Eurasian Economic Union – EAEU] which means poverty, Maia Sandu proposes the path to the EU, towards the free market of the EU,” Basescu said.

The leader of the People’s Movement Party (PMP) added that there is a “huge difference” between Maia Sandu and Igor Dodon’s propose governing solutions.

“Maia Sandu proposes a Republic of Moldova that would claim for itself European values, while Dodon proposes a road to Moscow that implies an oligarchic type of governance. I, as a citizen of the Republic of Moldova, want European values for this country,” Basescu also said.

Traian Basescu was greeted upon exiting the Embassy by several sympathizers and the executive chairmen of the PMP, Valeriu Steriu and Eugen Tomac.

Valeriu Steriu said that he came to the embassy as a “sympathizer of Maia Sandu” and as a gesture of support for “those coming to vote her”.

“There are very many students that, today, are voting here and we hope there be as many all throughout the country, there are many voting stations, and just as in the past 10 years the Diaspora tipped the flag in Romania towards those who won the elections, we hope to see Moldova too turning towards Europe with the help of the Diaspora and, especially, with those who are in Romania – very many students and very many youths who are working in Romania,” Steriu emphasized.

Tricolour flags were waved, as well as that of the European Union, and upon Basescu’s exit from the embassy there were chants of “Basarabia is Romania”.

At the request of sympathizers, Basescu showed his Moldovan passport bearing the “I voted” mark upon it.</s>Moldova's pro-Russian presidential candidate Igor Dodon has declared victory in Sunday's presidential runoff vote, holding a commanding lead in the former Soviet republic with nearly all votes counted.

With 97 percent of all ballots tallied late Sunday, Dodon, who campaigned on promises to restore closer ties with Russia, held a commanding 55.3 to 44.7 percent lead over pro-Europe rival Maia Sandu.

"We have won, everyone knows it," Dodon said at a late night news conference.

Final results are expected early Monday in the impoverished country of 3.5 million.

FILE - Leader of the Action and Solidarity Party, FILE - Leader of the Action and Solidarity Party and pro-Europe candidate Maia Sandu casts her vote during the first round of presidential elections in Chisinau Moldova, Oct. 30, 2016. FILE - Leader of the Action and Solidarity Party and pro-Europe candidate Maia Sandu casts her vote during the first round of presidential elections in Chisinau Moldova, Oct. 30, 2016.

Dodon, who came close to winning the presidency outright in the first round of voting two weeks ago, also has pledged to foster good relations with Moldova's neighbors, Romania and Ukraine. However, such appeasement gestures may face stiff resistance in Kyiv by many who object to Dodon's support for Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

For her part, Sandu - a former education minister - used her campaign to urge closer ties with Europe. She also called for the withdrawal of several thousand Russian troops from Moldova's Russian-speaking separatist region of Trans-Dniester.

Dodon's apparent victory comes alongside that of nearby Bulgaria's pro-Russian presidential candidate Gen. Rumen Radev, a political novice whose win on Sunday prompted center-right Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to announce his resignation.

People cast ballots during a presidential election Voters cast ballots during a presidential election at a polling station in Chisinau, Moldova, Nov. 13, 2016. Voters cast ballots during a presidential election at a polling station in Chisinau, Moldova, Nov. 13, 2016.

Moldova, like Bulgaria, has in recent years been plagued with rampant official corruption.

Former Moldovan prime minister Vlad Filat was sentenced earlier this year to a nine-year prison term, after a court found him guilty of corruption and abuse of power during his 2009-2013 term as head of government. His pro-European ruling coalition had been linked to the country's most powerful oligarch, Vladimir Plahotniuc, who has long been accused of running the country through bribes and intimidation.

Filat was arrested last year during a parliamentary session and later charged for his links to a bank fraud scheme that included the disappearance from three banks of $1 billion - nearly 13 percent of the tiny country's annual GDP.

Filat's successor later lost a parliamentary vote of confidence.</s>CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — A pro-Russian politician has secured a clear win in a presidential race that many Moldovans hope will rekindle ties with Moscow, near final results showed Monday.



With 99.9 percent of the votes counted, Igor Dodon won 52.3 percent of the vote. Maia Sandu, who ran on an anti-corruption ticket, had 47.7 percent.



Moldovans celebrated Dodon's victory with fireworks early Monday in the semi-autonomous Gagauzia region, home of many ethnic Russians.



The Socialists' Party leader promised to be a president to all Moldovans and said he seeks good relations with the nation's neighbors, Romania and Ukraine.



The Moldovan president represents the country abroad, sets foreign policy and appoints judges, but needs parliamentary approval for major decisions. The change in the way the president is being elected, however, is expected to bring the post more authority.



The 41-year-old Dodon, who painted himself as a traditional Moldovan with conservative values, tapped into popular anger over the approximately $1 billion that went missing from Moldovan banks before the 2014 parliamentary elections.



Dodon says he will move to rescind a law voted by Parliament which obliges taxpayers to reimburse the $1 billion, but hasn't called for a thorough investigation or to find those responsible for the heist. It is doubtful that he would be able to cancel a law already approved by the legislature.



He wants to restore ties with Russia, which placed a trade embargo on Moldovan wine, fruit and vegetables in 2014 after Moldova signed an association agreement with the European Union.



The president is in charge of foreign policy but he cannot cancel the association agreement, which was ratified by Parliament.



"The new president will continue to pursue an active pro-Russia policy," said Nicolae Reutoi, senior analyst at Alaco, a London-based intelligence consultancy. "However, in practice, he will have to work in tandem with the ruling coalition, which declares itself pro-European."



Another analyst called Dodon "an authoritarian populist."



"He promised everything to everyone," said Dan Brett, a commentator on Moldova and an associate professor at the Open University.



Dodon, who was economic minister from 2006 to 2009, may try to consolidate authority around himself, Brett said.



Brett said the result suited the pro-European government in power since 2009 because, "he is cut from the same cloth as them and they share the same self-interests."



Sandu, a former education minister who heads the Action and Solidarity Party, said the former Soviet republic would have a more prosperous future in the EU.



Sandu needed a high turnout to hope to win, but the final turnout of 53.3 percent was less than she had hoped.



Moldovans voting in Britain, Ireland, France and Italy lined up for hours and ballot papers ran out. Sandu said the elections had been badly organized.



___



Alison Mutler in Bucharest, Romania contributed to this report.</s>A flower vendor stands back dropped by a large poster of socialist presidential candidate Igor Dodon, placed on an apartment block, which reads in Russian and Romanian "We will win and it will be better in Moldova" in Chisinau, Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016. Moldovans will directly elect their president on Sunday for the first time in 20 years the favorite is Socialist Igor Dodon, who wants the ex-Soviet republic to return to the Russian orbit, while rival Maia Sandu believes the agricultural nation of 3.5 million, bordering Ukraine and European Union member Romania, would secure a more prosperous future in Europe. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)</s>CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldovans are voting in a presidential election Sunday in which the favorite has promised to restore ties with Russia that cooled after the former Soviet republic signed a trade deal with the European Union.

Igor Dodon, a pro-Moscow figure, has tapped into popular anger with corruption under the pro-European government that came to power in 2009, particularly over about $1 billion that went missing from Moldovan banks before 2014 parliamentary elections.

"I voted for the future of the country. I am totally convinced that Moldova has a future. It will be independent, united and sovereign," said Dodon, who heads the opposition Socialists' Party after voting, predicting an easy win.

Dodon says he wants to federalize Moldova to include the breakaway region of Trans-Dniester where more than 1,000 Russian troops are stationed, and his comments about a "united" Moldova alluded to that.

Rival Maia Sandu, an ex-World Bank economist, who ran on an anti-corruption ticket, urged Moldovans to get out and vote. She needs a high turnout to stand a chance of winning. At midday, about 22 percent of the electorate had voted — the same as in the first round.

"If the vote is correct, we will win.... it is important to be vigilant and not let them steal the vote," she said.

She said if elected, as the new president, she would appoint "honest, righteous people and good professionals ... this will be the first signal that things change for the better in Moldova."

The former education minister, who heads the Action and Solidarity Party, says the former Soviet republic will have a more prosperous future in the EU.

Dodon, who nearly won the election in the first round two weeks ago and leads in recent polls, has promised to restore friendly relations with Moscow. He has also recently hedged his bets, saying he also seeks good relations with Moldova's neighbors, Romania and Ukraine.

He has been criticized in Ukraine for saying Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, is Russian territory. Russia punished agricultural Moldova with a trade embargo on wine, fruit and vegetables after it signed a trade association deal with the EU in 2014.

Russia and the West seek greater influence over the strategically-placed, but impoverished agricultural country of 3.5 million.

Former Romanian President Traian Basescu, who obtained Moldovan citizenship this month, voted at the Moldovan Embassy in Bucharest.

"I want European values in this state," he said.</s>CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovans are voting in a presidential election Sunday in which the favorite has promised to restore ties with Russia that cooled after the former Soviet republic signed a trade deal with the European Union.

Igor Dodon, a pro-Moscow figure, has tapped into popular anger with corruption under the pro-European government that came to power in 2009, particularly over about $1 billion that went missing from Moldovan banks before 2014 parliamentary elections.

“I voted for the future of the country. I am totally convinced that Moldova has a future. It will be independent, united and sovereign,” said Dodon, who heads the opposition Socialists’ Party after voting, predicting an easy win.

Dodon, who nearly won the election in the first round two weeks ago and leads in recent polls, has promised to restore friendly relations with Moscow. He has also recently hedged his bets, saying he also seeks good relations with Moldova’s neighbors Romania and Ukraine.

Russia punished agricultural Moldova with a trade embargo on wine, fruit and vegetables after it signed a trade association deal with the EU in 2014.

Rival Maia Sandu, an ex-World Bank economist, has run on an anti-corruption ticket and says the former Soviet republic will have a more prosperous future in the EU. Both Russia and the West seek greater influence over the strategically placed, but impoverished agricultural country of 3.5 million.

Alison Mutler in Bucharest, Romania, contributed to this report.
Voters in Moldova head to the polls in the country's presidential runoff between two opposition candidates, Igor Dodon, from the pro-Russian socialist PSRM, and Maia Sandu, from the pro-EU liberal PAS, with Dodon expected to win. Preliminary results, in this first Moldovan election where the president is chosen by national votes rather than by parliament, will be announced Monday.