20/06/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 20 June, the chairwoman of the EPP working group on foreign affairs in Parliament, Sandra Kalniete MEP (Latvia), and the EPP spokesman in the committee on foreign affairs, Cristian Dan Preda MEP (Romania), expressed their regret at the decision taken by the Chişinău Court the previous day to invalidate the local elections that took place in the capital of Moldova. Andrei Nastase, who is pro-EU, won the elections with over 52% of the votes against the Socialist Party candidate, who favours Russia, Ion Ceban. "Elections are the cornerstone of any democratic regime. The results of the vote on 3 June should be fully respected as they reflect the political will of the citizens of Chişinău", the two MEPs stated in a press release, adding that it was "essential for the judicial power to be impartial and independent of any kind of political influence". (CG)