The former deputy chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Ștefan Savitski said that he “parted company nicely” with his colleagues from ALDE and that he will run independently in the presidential election, IPN reports.

“I’m independent. I cooperated with my colleagues from ALDE. We parted company nicely, collegially and diplomatically. I’m not going to make any negative statement about my colleagues. I wish them success in the future, but the decision was mine. I took it on my own so that we could unite the parties, regardless of color. All of us, who are in the Republic of Moldova, must do it in such a way as to unite all the nations that are and live on this land, including the union of the banks of the Nistru,” Ștefan Savitski said in a press briefing.

Regarding the referendum, he noted that he supports Moldova’s integration into the European Union, but it is not clear to him what the purpose of the plebiscite that will take place on the same day as the presidential election is. “Yes, I’m in favor of Moldova’s integration into the European Union, but I emphasize that there should be room for both banks of the Nistru, including the citizens of the Gagauz autonomous unit, so as not to experience problems again,” stated Ștefan Savitski.

So far, the intention to run for President of the Republic of Moldova was announced by incumbent President Maia Sandu, former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, former chairman of the Dignity and Truth Platform Andrei Năstase, Our Party chairman Renato Usatyi, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova Vlad Filat, former Prime Minister Ion Chicu, former Foreign Affairs Minister Tudor Ulyanovski, journalist Natalia Morari, former governor of the Territorial Administrative Unit of Gagauzia Irina Vlah, former prosecutor Victoria Furtună, former Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, doctor habilitate in constitutional law Alexandru Arseni, former Minister of Defense Valeriu Pleșca, supported by the European Social Democratic Party, non-affiliated MP Vasile Bolea, and also the leader of the Coalition for Unity and Welfare Igor Munteanu.