CHISINAU, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- The presidential runoff election is ongoing in Moldova on Sunday, citizens will choose between candidates who picked up the highest number of votes in the first round -- Socialist leader Igor Dodon and Maia Sandu, the common candidate of the right-wing forces.
The Socialist Party leader Dodon, who got the most votes during the first round of elections, was one of the first politicians to vote, declaring he voted for a better future of Moldova.
"I am convinced that Moldova has a future, will be independent, integral, sovereign. I voted for our kids, against those who were at the government for the last seven years," declared Dodon, who came to the polling station with his wife and three sons.
The Socialist leader also stressed that he voted "against those who openly advocate the elimination of our country and the association with other states."
The rival Sandu declared that she voted for "the wonderful people of this country."
"I voted for people who believe in correctness, truth, honest work, education and common sense," stated Sandu, leader of the Action and Solidarity Party.
"I count on the vigilance of those who go to vote and on the vigilance of the observers. If the elections are fair, we will win," the rightist candidate said.
Prime Minister Pavel Filip, after voting in the presidential runoff, voiced hope that the new president would deny electoral rhetoric and would work together with the government for implementing the reforms.
Nearly 3 million Moldovans eligible to vote are expected to the polls to choose Moldova's next head of state for a four-year-term. Polls work between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. local time.
Moldova held direct presidential elections on Oct. 30, a change from the past 16 years during which the head of state was indirectly elected by the parliament.
The runoff election was decided to 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) at the first round of elections.
