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Bessarabian students from 12 Romanian cities demand Moldovan authorities to open four supplementary polling stations in Romania, in particular, in Cluj, Timisoara, Iasi and Galati. According to an appeal submitted to CEC, student associations from several Romanian cities say that “the number of Bessarabian students in Romania, as well as of other Moldovan citizens who reside Romania is too high to be ignored by Moldovan authorities.” (according to “Jurnal de Chisinau”)

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has reiterated the impossibility to open polling stations abroad but in diplomatic missions and consulates of Moldova. According to CEC, Article 29 (5) of Election Code stipulates express: “One polling station shall open in every diplomatic mission and consular office of Moldova for parliamentary elections and republican referendums.” CEC considers that some legal regulations shall be introduced to stipulate the opening of polling stations in countries populated by Moldovan nationals entitled to vote in which Moldova does not have official representations. Just in this case the CEC would hold a legal mechanism to organise elections in countries where Moldova does not have embassies and consulates.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) has organised the national launching of PSD electoral campaign, at the National Palace. It introduced the electoral offer of PSD called “Strong Moldova — Strong Economy — Better Life!” and the PSD Team — Team of Renovation. Social democrats criticised the results of the communist governing, mentioning among other things that 72 percent of people face the poverty limit; 1 percent of people own 80 percent of the wealth of the country; minimum salaries are 100-fold lower than heads’ wages; minimum pension is 9-fold lower than pension of members of Parliament or Government; more than 90 percent of people consider corruption as a serious or very serious problem; over 60,000 bureaucrats, more than enterprises; 56 control bodies; more than 5,000 pay-for services provided by state to people. PSD pledged to fulfil the following objectives: the state will open at least 100,000 jobs, so that majority of nationals working abroad to be able to come back home by the end of 2012; will reduce the discrepancy between the rich and the poor; will immediately establish an official minimum wage, including for budgetary employees, from 600 lei at present up to 1,500 lei, the amount needed to cover the minimum consumer basket. An incident occurred before the release of the electoral platform — the police have held two minibuses carrying electoral leaflets of PSD, which should be disseminated to participants in ceremony. The police said that drivers lacked carriage documents and the printing company and circulation were not marked on electoral leaflets. The police released the minibuses later but signalled the breaches to CEC.

AMN has organised a meeting with a group of more than 150 youths from localities in the rayon of Straseni. AMN deputy chairmen Vasile Balan and Iurie Colesnic introduced the list of AMN candidates to youths, saying that “this list is a good combination between young and experienced forces.” AMN Deputy Valeriu Cosarciuc explained key principles and goals of the AMN Programme, assuring that it focuses on redressing the difficult condition of youths in Moldova, who are particularly interested in matters such as jobs, scholarships, European integration, and Transnistrian settlement.

In order to implement the electoral programme of UCM, Vasile Tarlev has established direct contacts with the Moscow-based organisation of the United Russia Party and its leader Yuri Luzhkov. Tarlev agreed to cooperate at all levels with the purpose to strengthen Moldovan-Russian relations, develop cooperation in all humanitarian areas, extend technical-scientific partnership etc. Calling against any artificial obstacles in Moldovan-Russian relations, the two leaders committed themselves to monitor the Government activity in terms of respect for migration agreements between the two countries. UCM notes that the interest of Tarlev’s team to cooperate with Moscow is clear. Russia’s capital is a key consumer of products made in Moldova. Moscow hosts most of Moldovan guest workers.