​DECISION ON WITHDRAWING MARIAN LUPU FROM ELECTION CAMPAIGN MUST BE TAKEN BY APPEALS COURT – CEC

Decision on de-registering Marian Lupu as a presidential candidate must be taken by the Chisinau Appeals Court, Central Election Commission Chairperson Alina Russu stated to the press on Thursday.

She confirmed that on Thursday Marian Lupu had submitted his official application for the withdrawal and that Article 46 of the Election Code stipulates the possibility for such a departure. But this can be done not shorter than 7 days to elections. If shorter, a candidate registration may be cancelled only by decision of the court.

“According to the Election Code, the Central Election Commission is not eligible to consider applications submitted shorter than 7 days to an election date. In such case, a candidate must apply to the court. I can’t see a legal reason why the court should deny the candidate’s de-registration”, said Alina Russu.

As already reported by Infotag, on Wednesday Marian Lupu announced his quitting the election campaign in favor of Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) Chairperson Maia Sandu. Lupu said Maia has higher chances to defeat “anti-European Dodon” and thus to save Moldova’s European integration course.

Sandu stated she does no need such a support, having called the Democratic Party’s decision “a poisoned apple”. In her words, with this support Plahotniuc simply wants to discredit her in the eyes of opposition voters to thus make it easier for Socialist Dodon to win the election. Maia Sandu voiced confidence she will win the election without the authorities’ help.