CHISINAU, Moldova— Near-final results gave the pro-European candidate a comfortable lead in the runoff for mayor of Chisinau on Sunday, in an election seen as a test of whether the former Soviet republic moves closer to the European Union or to neighboring Russia.
With 95.78 percent of the votes counted, incumbent Dorin Chirtoaca, had 52.43 percent of the vote with his pro-Russian challenger Zinaida Greceanai trailing with 47.57 percent.
Fireworks went off in the capital just before midnight when it looked like Chirtoaca would win another four-year mandate.
Earlier, the 38-year-old Chirtoaca, mayor since 2007 of this city of 1 million, said he …read more
Source: The Epoch Times
