BUCHAREST, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Moldova's former Prime Minister Maia Sandu was projected to win the second round of the country's presidential election, with more than 99 percent of the votes counted late Sunday, according to media reports.
Sandu, also leader of the Party of Action and Solidarity, was leading with 57 percent, while incumbent President Igor Dodon, another contender for Moldova's highest position in the next four years, was lagging behind with 43 percent, said the country's Central Electoral Commission.
"I today voted for a change, for Moldova, which we will all be proud of, for Moldova in which the people look at tomorrow with confidence and live in joy, alongside their families," said Sandu, who got the most votes during the first round of the election.
Dodon, who is supported by the country's largest Socialist Party, declared that he voted for the independence of the Republic of Moldova and for strengthening its statehood.
This is the second duel between the two. Dodon defeated Sandu in the second round of voting in November 2016 and won his first presidential mandate.
Moldova held the presidential election on Nov. 1 and decided the runoff election would take place between the top two candidates, as none of the nine candidates competing in the presidential race received an absolute majority of the votes -- 50 percent plus one vote -- during the first round of the election. Enditem
