Chisinau, 304 minutes processed out of 305: Ion Ceban - 50.58%, Lilian Carp - 22.27%

The current mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, the president of MAN, got the most votes. With 50.58% of the votes, Ceban is ahead of the PAS candidate Lilian Carp who has accumulated 28.27% of votes and has a chance to win the elections in the first round, according to the preliminary data of the Central Electoral Commission. To date, the CEC has processed 304 minutes out of 305 for the municipality of Chisinau.

In six municipalities in the Republic of Moldova, the mayor was elected in the first round

The municipalities of Orhei, Străseni, Soroca, Hîncești, Ceadîr-lunga and Cahul have elected their mayors.

LIVE TEXT // General local elections. In over 600 localities in the country, the mayors were elected in the first round

UPDATE 15:58 Mayors were elected in the first round in 623 localities in the country, said the president of the CEC, Angelica Caraman. In other 265 localities no candidate receives more than half of the number of validly cast votes, which is why within two weeks the second round of voting is organized with two candidates with the highest number of votes in the first ballot ".

Zelensky pushes US for more aid, invites Trump to Ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the US to provide more funding to help his forces counter Russia, and invited former US President Donald Trump to fly in to see the scale of the conflict for himself, Reuters reports.

Turkey recalls ambassador from Israel

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel on Saturday morning, citing the “humanitarian tragedy” in Gaza and “Israel’s refusal of calls for ceasefire”, Politico reports.

Dorin Recean: "Today we decide on the future of the Republic of Moldova"

We build the European future of the Republic of Moldova every day, and today we do it by offering our vote for European mayors and councilors, said Prime Minister Dorin Recean after voting. Also, the PM encouraged everyone to vote.

Igor Grosu voted for a mayor with managerial capabilities "we want a European capital, without traffic jams"

The Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu voted for a mayor with managerial capabilities to transform the capital into a European city without traffic jams.

LIVE // The Central Electoral Commission holds a briefing

The Central Electoral Commission holds a briefing on the conduct of general local elections.

Media: Zelensky expected to visit Israel early next week

The arrangements for President Volodymyr Zelensky's upcoming visit to Israel next week are in an advanced stage, the Times of Israel reported citing Channel 12 news reports.

LIVE//A new press conference by Promo-LEX

The Observation Mission Promo-LEX for the General Local Elections of November 5, 2023 organizes a new press conference on the conduct of the elections.

Maia Sandu: "Democracy depends on our vote"

The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, cast her vote in the local general elections. The head of state voted in Chisinau "for people she trusts." Also, Maia Sandu urged citizens to vote, "because voting means the power of the people".

President of the voting commission in the village of Gradiste, Cimișlia district, died on the day of the election

The president of the voting commission at a polling station in the village of Gradiste, Cimișlia district, died on the very day of the election. The information was confirmed for Radio Moldova by the spokeswoman of the General Police Inspectorate, Diana Fetco.