The presidential election in Moldova was held in a competitive environment and with due respect for the basic principles of freedom, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission, which monitored the election, said in a preliminary report released on Monday.

During the campaign both candidates had the opportunity to talk to voters during televised debates, the document said.

According to OSCE observers, the extremely polarized media coverage of the election, rude and offensive rhetoric, and the constant use of administrative resources had a negative effect on the process.

Complaints of a financial nature were not resolved in due course.

"Technical preparations for the second round were generally administered professionally and, overall, the observers assessed election day positively," according to the report.

Speaking at a press conference on the results of the Moldovan election earlier on Monday, Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, head of the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, said that the monitoring mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights considers the election's second round to be valid.

The election was correct and democratic, the voting was well organized, in accordance with the law, and voters' choices were not in any way restricted, she said.

As reported, the second round of the Moldovan presidential election was won by the Socialist leader Igor Dodon.