CHISINAU, Moldova, Muharram 29, 1438, Oct 30, 2016, SPA -- Moldovans voted for a president Sunday in an election that could move the former Soviet republic closer to Europe or push it back into Russia's orbit, AP reported. It is the first time in 20 years citizens have directly voted for their president in a country where many are angry about high-level corruption. Both the European Union together with the U.S. and Russia seek to have more influence over the impoverished agricultural landlocked nation of 3.5 million, located between EU member Romania and Ukraine. In the afternoon, election authorities declared the ballot valid after voter turnout reached 33.34 percent, exceeding the necessary minimum threshold of one-third of the eligible electorate. The first results are expected within hours after polls close at 1900 GMT (3 p.m. EDT). The favorite of the nine candidates running for the post is Igor Dodon, a 41-year-old pro-Moscow avuncular figure who heads the Socialists' Party and who has tapped into widespread dissatisfaction with the pro-European government, which has been in office since 2009. Moldova was thrown into political turmoil in 2014 with the disappearance of more than $1 billion from the banking system. Weeks of street protests followed and six prime ministers took office in one year. -- SPA 21:54 LOCAL TIME 18:54 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w