The Moldovan Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) will not participate in the October 20 presidential election, but will promote the constitutional referendum on EU membership.

ALDE president Arina Spătaru told a press briefing that the party is not fielding a presidential candidate because “people need unity and genuine debates, and because they want Moldova to be in the European family in 20 years from now”.

Instead, ALDE will focus on promoting the pro-EU position in the referendum, with its members to be involved in canvassing.

In the context of the presidential election, Arina Spătaru criticized the government and questioned the sincerity of the Action and Solidarity Party’s commitment to democracy, accusing it of “destroying everything that was left of politics in Moldova”.

On Tuesday, ALDE’s vice president Ștefan Savițchi announced he was leaving the party “on amicable terms” to run independently.