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The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) has organised a meeting and released two appeals, one addressing nationals working abroad and another one to the European Commission, Council of Europe and OSCE, inviting them to make governing authorities ensure the electoral right of fellow countrymen from other countries. According to organisers, approximately 20,000 PLDM members and supporters attended the meeting. (according to UNIMEDIA)

PLDM has addressed an appeal to nationals from other countries. It says that “the communist governing is categorically refusing to make elementary voting conditions for the April 5 elections. Communists realise that once they pressed you to leave the country and provide for your families, they cannot rely on your support any longer. We are confident that you will never elect this regime after having suffered much among foreigners. PLDM makes common cause with our fellows from other countries who want to cast their ballots at the forthcoming elections. We consider that excluding a million of citizens from the political process is an injustice, an open manifestation of disdain for those who make this state survive, by working and suffering humiliation. Since communist authorities do not respond to appeals by Moldovan communities abroad, when hundreds of thousands of Moldovan nationals are deprived of elementary conditions to exercise their constitutional right to elect, we are calling upon all fellow countrymen from outside to contact their families, relatives and friends from Moldova and persuade them to participate in the April 5 elections and vote against communists.”

The PLDM’s appeal to European institutions reads: “Moldovan citizens from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Israel, Greece, Romania, Russian Federation and other countries have asked the Government of Moldova more than once to open supplementary polling stations outside of embassies and consulates, but their legitimate requests have been turned down. The alleged lack of an adequate legal framework invoked by communist authorities is a lie and does not withstand criticism. There were many cases in the recent history of the Republic of Moldova when polling stations were opened outside of embassies and consulates, in localities which hosted many Moldovan citizens on the Election Day.”

The organisation Gagauzia Unita has released an appeal upon Moldovan citizens and international organisations. It says that “in their expectations, the Gagauz people have been disappointed more than once with the conduct of the Party of Communists.” In connection with the recent visit to Gagauzia, President Voronin was expected to apologise for the unfulfilled promises. But instead of apologising for failing to honour promises in the linguistic area, for undermining good relations with Russia, illegally eliminating governor Croitor, blocking the Russian humanitarian aid, seizing the Russian assistance for Gagauzia etc., President Voronin came to Gagauzia and threatened to clear up all existing problems after elections, depending on results of the April 5 voting. Threats to put things straight with legally elected Gagauz authorities, insulting attitudes towards some persons from the autonomy are grave. According to the appeal, Gagauzia was and will keep being part of the Republic of Moldova, but it will adequately reply to those who try to divide the society. It notes that CEC should not allow the PCRM to participate in elections should such abuses repeat, otherwise the international community will doubt over fairness of elections in Moldova.

By publishing an article titled “Scopul — statul dreptatii sociale” (Goal — state of social justice), newspaper Pravda, the press body of the Russian Communist Party (PCR), raised concern with the strained electoral situation in the Republic of Moldova. The newspaper calls the Moldovan opposition revanchist, saying that the PCRM has fulfilled its promises in eight years of governing. However, Russian communists doubt over successes of foreign policy, saying that they do not exist in general. As well, they regret the lack of progress in settling the Transnistrian conflict. No progress was made to honour the promises of granting the status of official language to Russian and approaching the Russia-Belarus Union.