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| Moldova holds first presidential election in 20 years | Moldova holds first presidential election in 20 years |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Voting is under way in Moldova for the country's first direct presidential election for 20 years. | |
| The vote is being seen as a battle between those supporting closer ties with Russia and those wanting integration with the European Union. | The vote is being seen as a battle between those supporting closer ties with Russia and those wanting integration with the European Union. |
| The ex-Soviet republic is one of the poorest countries in Europe and has been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals. | The ex-Soviet republic is one of the poorest countries in Europe and has been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals. |
| Since 1996 presidents of Moldova have been chosen by parliament. | Since 1996 presidents of Moldova have been chosen by parliament. |
| Pavel Filip was appointed prime minister in January and it was his pro-European coalition that re-established the popular vote. | Pavel Filip was appointed prime minister in January and it was his pro-European coalition that re-established the popular vote. |
| Both the EU and Russia seek greater influence over the country, which is wedged between Ukraine and Romania, but polls indicate that voters are divided about which offers them a better future. | Both the EU and Russia seek greater influence over the country, which is wedged between Ukraine and Romania, but polls indicate that voters are divided about which offers them a better future. |
| The pro-Moscow Socialist candidate, Igor Dodon, has been ahead in opinion polls and has pledged to push for new parliamentary elections if he wins. | The pro-Moscow Socialist candidate, Igor Dodon, has been ahead in opinion polls and has pledged to push for new parliamentary elections if he wins. |
| His main rival is Maia Sandu of the pro-Western, centre-right opposition. She has been praised for reforming the education system. | His main rival is Maia Sandu of the pro-Western, centre-right opposition. She has been praised for reforming the education system. |
| If no candidate wins an outright majority in the first round, a second round of voting will be held on 13 November. | If no candidate wins an outright majority in the first round, a second round of voting will be held on 13 November. |
| The president appoints judges and sets out foreign policy but other major decisions need the approval of parliament. | The president appoints judges and sets out foreign policy but other major decisions need the approval of parliament. |
| Popular election though could bring the post more influence and authority, correspondents say. | Popular election though could bring the post more influence and authority, correspondents say. |
| Moldova was thrown into political turmoil in 2014 with the disappearance of about $1bn (£820m) from the banking system. | Moldova was thrown into political turmoil in 2014 with the disappearance of about $1bn (£820m) from the banking system. |
| There were weeks of street protests and six prime ministers took office in one year. | There were weeks of street protests and six prime ministers took office in one year. |
| Since then, parliament has passed anti-corruption laws, forcing public officials to disclose their assets and making the misuse of EU funds a criminal offence. | Since then, parliament has passed anti-corruption laws, forcing public officials to disclose their assets and making the misuse of EU funds a criminal offence. |