Moldovan PM denounces "massive" election fraud

Chisinau, Nov 6 /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Dorin Recean said that the fraud in the presidential elections was massive. He emphasized that this allegedly happened because the justice system did not function sufficiently, saying "we will have to change the pace and way in this area."

"Now about fraud. It was massive. The research, investigation and punishment of fraud must be completed. It is clear that the justice system did not function sufficiently and that is precisely why we ended up in the situation where such a huge network of vote fraud has developed. We must understand that justice does not consist only of laws, it does not consist only of self-administrative bodies. Justice also consists of concrete, courageous people who apply the law. It is clear that we can no longer move at this pace and with these people. There are still too few brave people. I thank the police, the CNA, honest prosecutors and judges who have acted promptly and courageously in recent weeks and months to protect our democracy, but as I said, from now on we will have to change the pace and the way we do things in this area," he said.

Moldovan citizens elected the president for the next four years in the runoff election on Sunday.

In both the first and second rounds, the country's top leadership denounced election fraud. Law enforcers are also investigating several cases in which some voters allegedly took money in exchange for their votes. The National Anti-Corruption Center announced that by November 1, it had fined more than 3.5 million lei for passive electoral corruption.