Andrei Năstase, the leader of Dignity and Truth (DA) party, backed by the gangsters Victor and Viorel Țopa, is going to abandon the presidential race till later this week. According to today.md, quoting sources from within the party, Năstase is compelled by a group of foreign partners, including the European Union, to yield to Maia Sandu.

Andrei Năstase got a message requiring him to make the announcement till Friday the latest. The problem is presumed to be his link with the runaway Țopa mobsters and his murky past, which would make him vulnerable against the Socialist Igor Dodon, in case he gets to the second round. According to the second round, the criminally sentenced Victor and Viorel Țopa agree that Andrei Năstase should leave the race, because they hope to gain favors in their being probed by the German authorities.

According to today.md journalists, although hit by the demand, Năstase is ready to give up the electoral race. He is also worried by a poll commissioned by a German foundation to be published on Friday. The results put Maia Sandu way ahead of Andrei Năstase, but the DA leader believes the research was faked to make him withdraw.

Today.md also writes that, although Năstase will publicly announce his backing Sandu, he’ll do his best to demonstrate to the foreign partners they made a mistake. According to today.md, the Țopa will tacitly back Dodon, with whom they will discuss easier after the poll, although they’ll formally hold the PAS leader’s side.

The ‘withdrawal’ speech Năstase will utter when retreating is being written by Anatol Țăranu, the former adviser to PLDM leader Vlad Filat, sentenced for graft and influence peddling.