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The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has registered nine parties as electoral contestants: the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Liberal Party (PL), the “Moldova Noastra” (Our Moldova) Alliance (AMN), the Christian Democratic People’s Party (PPCD), the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), the Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM), and the “Actiunea Europeana” (European Action) Movement (MAE). The candidates lists of all parties include 103 persons each, except for the UCM list, which contains 97 persons. As well, CEC has registered the electoral symbols of competitors and their representatives with a consultative vote to the CEC. Although the electoral legislation prohibits the electoral blocs, leaders of a number of parties have ceased their political membership in order to be included in the candidates list of other parties. In particular, the candidates list of MAE includes leaders of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and National Romanian Party (PNR). The UCM list includes leaders of the Humanist Party of Moldova (PUM), Party of Law and Justice (PLD). UCM is also supported by the Popular Republican Party (PPR), the Labour Union Patria-Rodina (UMPR) and the Republican Party (PR).

CEC has adopted the regulation on posting electoral advertising in private places, which says that every electoral contestant may benefit of advertising space in equal conditions. Advertising agencies accepting electoral advertising shall grant maximum 10 percent of their available space to each electoral contestant. The price for posting electoral advertising in private places shall not be higher than for commercial advertising. Local administrations shall grant at least one square metre of public place to each electoral contestant. The CEC regulation bans the electoral posters on public estates, in public transport, on grilles and pillars. As well, the electoral advertising shall not be posted at less than 50 metres from electoral offices.

CEC has approved the expense estimate for the April 5, 2009 elections. Expenses are estimated at 40,427,000 lei (about 4 million dollars). More than half of expenses will go to remuneration of electoral bodies (approximately 20,000 persons). Other expenses will go to materials, services needed to organise and conduct elections.

The candidates lists of the nine registered parties include 170 holders of a foreign citizenship or applicants for a second citizenship. The list of PL includes 22 holders of a second citizenship (one of Russia, the others of Romania), another nine persons have applied for the second citizenship; 2 PLDM candidates hold the dual citizenship and 31 are about to get it; 6 PDM candidates hold the dual citizenship and another 6 are already applicants; 12 AMN candidates hold the dual citizenship and another 14 are applicants; 9 PSD candidates hold the dual citizenship and another 4 are applicants; 12 UCM candidates hold the dual citizenship and another 3 are applicants; 5 PCRM candidates hold the dual citizenship (four of Romania and one of Bulgaria), and another one has applied; 7 PPCD candidates hold the dual citizenship and another 10 are about to get it; and 13 MAE candidates hold the dual citizenship and another 10 are applicants. (According to newspaper Timpul)

CEC has consulted leaders of the main political parties on the voting security and prevention of multiple voting. Leaders of political parties backed the CEC recommendation to apply the “2009 Elections” stamp on the attachment to the identity card.

The Our Moldova Alliance (AMN) has held a press conference and asked the CEC to suspend the right of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) to participate in the April 5 elections. According to AMN representatives, the PCRM is deliberately violating the Election Code, the Audiovisual Code and the Election Coverage Regulation. AMN fears that a number of public and private broadcasters make electoral propaganda for the PCRM, anticipating the registration of this party as electoral contestant.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) has held a press conference and made public its plans to formally open the electoral campaign on February 15, introducing the electoral platform “STRONG MOLDOVA — STRONG ECONOMY — BETTER LIFE!” PSD leaders said that their party aims at participating in governance based on the social-democratic doctrine. PSD will accept a post-electoral coalition with parties supporting the permanent neutrality of Moldova and a strategic partnership with EU and Russia. PSD considers that it is capable to garner at least 15 percent of the votes of electors. At present, SDP has 3 district chairpersons and 5 vice-chairpersons, 52 mayors, 74 district councillors, 1,374 local councillors.

The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) will apply to the ECHR in order to contest the violation of electoral right of Moldovan nationals living abroad. According to PLDM, the party “empowered by many Moldovan communities from Ireland, United Kingdom, Spain and Italy assumes the role of their advocate with the purpose to make the communist regime respect their legitimate electoral right.” PLDM warned that it “will organise a massive protest in the Great National Assembly Square on February 22, 2009, should Moldovan authorities refuse to open polling stations abroad, so that to allow Moldovan nationals to cast their constitutional right.”

The Democratic Party has applied to CEC, contesting some stipulations of the regulation on media coverage of the electoral campaign for the April 5, 2009 parliamentary elections. The clause saying that “debates will be organised only after the deadline foreseen by the Election Code for the registration of electoral candidates” limits the debate period to the last 30 days of the electoral campaign. According to PDM, the right of electoral contestants to manifest themselves is restricted this way.

The Republican Council of the Agrarian Party of Moldova (PAM) has released a statement inviting electors to vote the PCRM on April 5, 2009. It promises to ensure a long-term cooperation with the PCRM. PAM eulogises the eight-year PCRM governance. PAM leader Anatol Popusoi is part of the PCRM candidates list.

Supporters of Gagauz Governor Mihail Formuzal have signed an agreement on joint participation in parliamentary elections with the Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM) lead by Vasile Tarlev.

PCRM has contested PLDM actions held on February 8, 2009 to seek respect for electoral right of Moldovan nationals from other countries. PCRM claims that by organising an electoral action, the PLDM has violated the legislation, as it called upon citizens to elect it when it was not yet registered as electoral contestant by CEC.