Moldovan parliament votes to hold elections on September 28

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova's parliament voted connected Thursday to clasp parliamentary elections successful September, a canvass that is expected to beryllium intimately fought and could importantly trim the fig of seats held by President Maia Sandu's pro-Western PAS party.

Sandu is seeking to instrumentality Moldova into the European Union and determination distant from Moscow, which formerly ruled the tiny eastbound European federation sandwiched betwixt Ukraine and Romania.

Alexander Stoianoglo, the erstwhile prosecutor-general who came person than expected to unseating Sandu successful a statesmanlike predetermination past year, is starring a conjugation of 3 parties to situation PAS' majority.

Stoianoglo narrowly mislaid successful a run-off aft campaigning for a balanced overseas argumentation that would look to Russia arsenic good arsenic the West.

Fifty-seven lawmakers supported a question connected Thursday to clasp elections connected September 28, portion 32 abstained.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Writing by Max Hunder; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Frances Kerry)