- Title: Pro-Russian candidate casting ballot in Moldova's presidential vote
- Date: 13th November 2016
- Summary: CHISINAU, MOLDOVA (NOVEMBER 13, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PEOPLE AT POLLING STATION MOLDOVA'S EMBLEM CANDIDATE AND SOCIAL PARTY LEADER, IGOR DODON, ENTERING POLLING STATION, HOLDING HIS SON NIKOLAI, HIS WIFE GALINA (IN BLUE COAT) FOLLOWS THEM BALLOTS ON TABLE DODON REGISTERING FOR VOTE ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICIALS VARIOUS OF DODON CASTING VOTE DODON LEAVING MEDIA DODON IN FRONT OF POLLING STATION, TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CANDIDATE AND SOCIAL PARTY LEADER, IGOR DODON, SAYING: "Today we voted for the future of our country. I am certain that Moldova has the future. We voted against those who were torturing our country for the last seven years. We voted against those who openly support the liquidation of our country and integration with other states. I am sure that the majority of citizens of the Republic of Moldova has made the right choice." DODON TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CANDIDATE AND SOCIAL PARTY LEADER, IGOR DODON, SAYING: "I hope we will manage to avoid protests. I want to address our opponents and ask them to carefully monitor the voting. After the results are released, it is essential that these results are acknowledged, and we will monitor what is happening today." DODON LEAVING
- Embargoed: 28th November 2016 10:28
- Keywords: Dodon Moldova presidential election canedidate voting
- Location: CHISINAU, MOLDOVA
- City: CHISINAU, MOLDOVA
- Country: Moldova
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00158A1FT3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Pro-Russian Socialist candidate Igor Dodon cast his vote on Sunday (November 13) in an election that could install a pro-Russian candidate as president and slam the brakes on seven years of closer integration with the European Union.
Dodon has led the polls and narrowly failed to win an outright majority in the first round of voting at the end of October. His opponent, Maia Sandu, is a pro-Western former World Bank economist who had promised to tackle corruption.
Dodon's status as favourite is in part a reflection of a loss of trust in pro-European leaders in the ex-Soviet state of 3.5 million, which was plunged into turmoil after a corruption scandal came to light in late 2014.
Once again, the socialist arrived at the polling station with his wife Galina and holding his son Nikolai in arms. He said he was confident of public support.
"We voted against those who openly support liquidation of our country and integration with other states. I am sure that the majority of citizens of the Republic of Moldova has made the right choice," he said after voting.
In another potential blow to the European Union brand, Bulgaria - which also goes to the polls on Sunday - may similarly elect a pro-Russian candidate.
The scandal in Moldova involved the looting of $1 billion - the equivalent of an eighth of its economic output and highlighting the scale of corruption in Europe's poorest nation.
Former Prime Minister Vlad Filat - one of five prime ministers in three years - was implicated, handcuffed live on TV in parliament and later jailed.
Moldovans believe other members of the pro-EU elite were complicit.
The scandal was followed by a series of mass protests in the capital of the country. Dodon said the protests over the result of the presidential election should be avoided. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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