Moldova's ruling PAS gets 50.03% in parliamentary elections - CEC after counting over 99% of votes

CHISINAU. Sept 29 (Interfax) - The ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) has gained over 50% of votes in the parliamentary elections, according to the preliminary information.

The tentative election results were published on the Moldovan Central Election Commission website on Monday morning.

PAS has 50.03% of the vote, the commission said after counting 99.56% of votes. The pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc of Socialists, Communists and the Future of Moldova follows with 24.26%. The Alternative Bloc also passed the 7% bloc threshold with 7.99% of the vote. Two parties, which passed the 5% party threshold, won parliament seats as well. Our Party got 6.21% of the vote, and Democracy at Home got 5.63%.

In total, 1,607.196 or 52.16% of eligible voters came to polls.

Some 279,852 voters cast their ballots abroad. PAS won from 70% to 80% of votes at polling stations outside Moldova, the CEC said, citing preliminary information.

Some 12,017 people voted at 12 polling stations in Transdniestria, including 51.02% who voted for the Patriotic Bloc, 29.89% for PAS, 2.92% for Our Party, and 2.36% for Democracy at Home.

Preliminary results suggest that PAS might get 55 out of 101 parliament seats, while 26 seats may go to the Patriotic Bloc of Socialists, Communists and the Future of Moldova, eight to the Alternative Bloc, and six to Our Party and Democracy at Home each.

Fourteen parties, three blocs and four independent candidates stood in the parliamentary elections.