Leaders of Moldovan opposition claim they were poisoned

By bne IntelliNews February 22, 2019

Two leaders of the Moldovan opposition, Maia Sandu and Andrei Nastase, claimed on February 21 that they have been poisoned, three days before the general elections, newswires reported.

Sandu and Nastase are the leaders of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) and Dignity and Truth Political Party (PPDA), which have formed the ACUM coalition ahead of the parliamentary elections. They are the main rivals of the ruling Democratic Party (PDM) of Vlad Plahotniuc for the support of Moldova's pro-EU voters.

Sandu and Nastase claimed that, following a series of tests, high levels of heavy metals have been discovered in their blood, unimedia.md reported.

"These are things we should take seriously on the background of the attacks and the attitude the government has towards those who put their governing at risk," Sandu said.

"I am telling you with all certainty that we are the targets of attacks by this government that wants us dead," Nastase added.

Vitalie Gamurari, a spokesman for the PDM, said that the statements made by the opposition leaders should be seen in a electoral contect. "I am sure they are unfounded," Gamurari told Agora.md.

Moldova will hold general elections on February 24.

The electoral support for the Democratic Party (PDM) of Vlad Plahotniuc increased tremendously to 18% in January from 11% in June 2018 and 7% in October 2017, according to polls conducted by IMAS and Lake Research for the Foundation for Modern Democracy, a NGO that promotes the same ideology as the PDM. The popularity of the ACUM coalition enjoys 19% electoral support. The electoral support enjoyed by the Socialist Party stood at 29% in January, according to the same poll. The Socialists have consistently led the polls in the run-up to the election. 

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