alegeri.md

After the lots were drawn on February 5, 2009, the Central Electoral Commission established the preliminary ballot paper registration order of the political organizations that handed in the necessary documents during that day, to register as electoral candidates, as follows:

1. Social Democrat Party
2. The Political Party Liberal Party
3. The Political Party “Moldova Noastra” (Our Moldova) Alliance
4. Christian Democratic Peoples’ Party
5. Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova
6. The Political Party Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova
7. Democratic Party of Moldova

Oleg Cernei, member of “Moldova Noastra” (Our Moldova) Alliance (AMN) publicly contested the quality of the party’s candidates list: “the quality of the electoral list and the fact that AMN did not take into account the candidates image when the order of the electoral list was established creates problems. Gheorghe Susarenco is an example. Did he really deserve to be only on the 22nd place?” The party’s leader, Serafim Urechean replied, stating that “Obviously, some people feel offended because everyone tried to protect his/her place on the list. It’s good to have competition and it’s good that people want to stand as candidates on the AMN list”.

The Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM) approved the candidates list for participating in the April 5 2009 elections. The unofficial UCM leader, ex-prime minister Vasile Tarlev, identified the party’s allies for the election race — the Popular Republican Party (PPR), the Party of Law and Justice (PLD) and the Movement “Edinaia Gagauzia” (“United Gagauzia”; MEG).

Valerii Klimenco, leader of the Social-Political Republican Movement “Ravnopravie” (Equality), stated that the party he chairs will participate all by itself in the election campaign. Klimenco denied that UCM could be “Ravnopravie”’s ally, since ex-prime minister Tarlev is playing a political role plotted by the Party of Communists.

The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) stated that he disposes of certain information claiming that the authorities are preparing provocations against opposition leaders in order to slander them. According to Filat, trained groups “plan different kind of provocations: placing narcotics, guns, explosives inside cars or personal items; creating accident or conflict situations where opposition leaders and members of their families, including children would be involved”. PLDM addressed to the international institutions and to the diplomatic corps accredited in Chisinau, demanding the monitoring of the electoral campaign, so that the electoral process would not risk to be compromised.

The US Embassy in Republic of Moldova issued a statement underlining the importance of the April 5 2009 parliamentary elections. The statement called the Moldovan Government on “ensuring all candidates’ access to mass-media and the full freedom of assembly in a non-intimidating environment”. Besides, President Voronin’s call “to cooperate with the international observers both during the electoral campaign and on the elections date” was welcomed.