Moldovan presidential candidate Usatii who came in 3rd in 1st round invites supporters to decide for themselves for whom to vote in 2nd round

CHISINAU. Oct 28 (Interfax) - Renato Usatii, a Moldovan presidential candidate who came in third in the first round of the presidential election held on October 20, has said he will not support either of the two candidates who proceeded to the second round, i.e. incumbent President Maia Sandu and Alexandr Stoianoglo, and invited his supporters to decide for whom to vote in the second round for themselves.

"I won't vote for either candidate. At the same time, I cannot decide on anything for citizens of our country, either those who voted for me or those who supported other candidates," Usatii said at a press briefing in Chisinau on Monday.

"Each citizen should take on responsibility for their vote. Act as you consider right. You should decide for yourselves for whom to vote in the second round," he said.

Usatii recalled that, in similar presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020, he twice "offered confidence in and support for candidates who proceeded to the second round and later had to apologize for that."

Usatii criticized both Sandu and Stoianoglo and recommended that voters "analyze the situation, draw conclusions, and vote for a candidate who is the lesser of two evils."

None of the 11 candidates secured more than 50% of the vote in the first round of the presidential election in Moldova. President Sandu and former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo, who garnered 42.45% and 25.98% of the vote, respectively, have proceeded to the second round set for November 3. Usatii came in third with 13.79%.