The Moldovan Socialist Party (PSRM) has taken the most votes in the first round of the country’s local elections, held on October 20.
In Moldova’s capital, Chișinău, socialist candidate for mayor Ion Ceban took around 43 per cent of the vote, with Andrei Năstase of the ACUM bloc taking second place, with just over 30 per cent. The two men will take part in a second round run-off on November 3.
Both the socialists and ACUM are members of Moldova’s ruling coalition.
Turnout across the country was 41.6 per cent.
The election is the first major test for the ruling coalition, which took office in June, three months after an inconclusive parliamentary election.