ANKARA
Results from Moldova's parliamentary elections showed a lead Monday for pro-European parties over those that want to move back into Russia's sphere of influence, with almost 90 percent of votes counted.
The pro-European parties, led by former Prime Minister Vlad Filat, lead with 44.4 percent, compared to 39.5 percent for the two pro-Russia parties, according to the Central Electoral Commission.
"There were no irregularities," said Iurie Ciocan, Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission. "Everything went well during the voting process."
Moldovans, both in the country and around the world, voted for candidates to serve four-year terms in the 101-seat parliament. Parties needed to win at least 6 percent of the vote to get a seat.
Residents of the separatist, pro-Russian region of Transnistria did not take part in the election.
No party will be able to form a government alone, so a coalition government is inevitable. The three pro-EU parties have a narrow lead over their pro-Moscow rivals.
“It is necessary to arrange a post-electoral deal and to act very quickly," Filat, the leader of the pro-European bloc, told reporters. "We should build our country through courage and hard work.”
Moldova's parliamentary elections were seen as a contest between pro-EU and pro-Russian parties. Prime Minister Iurie Leanca wants Moldova to achieve EU candidate status by 2017 and full membership by 2020.
Moldova, a former Soviet republic that is Europe's poorest country, signed an association agreement with the EU last summer. But Russian President Vladimir Putin has pressured Moldova to postpone implementation of the free trade portion of the agreement.
About 2.7 million Moldovans were eligible to vote. Pro-Russian parties have accused authorities of trying to prevent Russia-based voters from taking part by failing to set up enough polling stations there.
On Thursday, three days before the elections, the pro-Russian party Patria, led by Renato Usatii, a millionaire businessman who made his fortune in Russia, was banned on the grounds the party had received some of its funds from abroad. Usatii subsequently left the country.
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