Alexandr Petkov, the candidate of Our Party, a political grouping established by controversial businessman Renato Usatii, has won the runoff election for mayor in Balti, Moldova's second-largest city. Petkov defeated Maxim Morosan, from the Moscow-backed Socialist Party, garnering alomost 60 percent of the vote. Results after the second round of local elections on November 19 showed the ruling Action and Solidarity Party of Western-backed President Maia Sandu has suffered a setback in urban centers, losing the mayorship in all of Moldova's 11 municipalities, including the capital, Chisinau. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Moldovan Service, click here.
