Incumbent president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, who is running for a new term, seems to win the 1st round of the presidential election that took place on Sunday in this country 15 per cent ahead of socialist Alexandr Stoianoglo.

According to the preliminary results presented by the Central Electoral Committee after counting 98.15pct of the votes coming from the 2,219 voting stations, Sandu, who is supported by the Action and Solidarity Party [Partidul Actiunii si Solidaritatii] at rule, won 41.83pct of the votes (633,403), while the candidate backed by the Party of Socialists in the Republic of Moldova, Alexandr Stoianoglo, won 26.40pct of the votes (399,740).

Third came Renato Usatii, who is the candidate of the Partidul Nostru political entity, receiving 13.75pct of the votes (208,257).

There were 1,561,726 electors recorded on Sunday in the Republic of Moldova, 51,65pct of the citizens with a right to vote in this country.

AGERPRES