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Three representatives of the Interior Ministry (MAI) have showed up to the Nisporeni-based station Albasat TV, summoning the administration to provide evidence on broadcasts aired in 2006. The policemen assured that they were acting legally, as criminal charges have been opened against Albasat. Reporting the police claims, Albasat TV director Efim Bardan said that the policemen collected facts about information services provided under a contract in 2006 to the Nisporeni District Council, which was controlled then by the Party of Communists of Moldova. “We have provided the services concerned but authorities did not respect their financial commitments stipulated by contract to pay about 112,000 lei,” Bardan noted. Further, Albasat recovered that amount via law court. The police claim that the information services concerned were not provided and Albasat administration should prove that they are wrong. Bardan is sure that the TV station is harassed on electoral reasons. The police have recently stormed this TV station. (Source: Monitor Media Agency / Deca-Press)

Premier Zinaida Greceanii, electoral candidate on behalf of PCRM, has had an electoral meeting with employees of S.A. Moldova-Gaz. Mrs. Greceanii came to the Opera and Ballet Theatre by her service car and accompanied by body guards remunerated from public funds, while employees of the State Guard Service secured the meeting. Journalists were not accepted inside of the Opera and Ballet Theatre. (Source: Jurnal de Chisinau)

The electoral candidate “Pentru Neam si Tara” (For Nation and Country) Party (PPNT) has joined the electoral campaign. In the social sector, PPNT promises to raise pensions up to 1,500–2,000 lei, should it enter the Parliament. The PPNT programme aims to sustain and encourage domestic entrepreneurial forces, boost investments in education, healthcare and culture, support NGOs, promote the decentralisation and consolidation of local public administration. As well, PPNT calls for Moldova’s integration into European organisations and fight against political, ethical and religious extremism. PPNT chairman Nicolae Utica believes that his party will succeed the 6-percent electoral threshold to emter the Parliament. (Source: Info-Prim)

“Acţiunea Europeana” (European Action) Movement (MAE) is seeking the seizure of illicit estates of dignitaries. MAE leaders made this demand at a press conference on Monday. Vitalia Pavlicenco, No.2 candidate on behalf of MAE, said that “emergent active actions are necessary” to eradicate corruption. Alexandra Can, nominated prime minister by MAE, said that the party aims “to build an independent body in charge with checking the trueness of estate and property declarations by dignitaries.” As well, MAE is seeking harsher penalties for corrupt dignitaries. MAE leader Anatol Petrenco read an open letter to President Vladimir Voronin, urging him to stop the use of public funds by the Communist Party in electoral campaign. (Source: Infotag)

Actiunea Europeana (European Action) Movement regrets the lack of cooperation with the Liberal Party (PL) and Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM). The two parties did not show interest to sign a National Anti-Corruption Pact proposed by MAE. The pact was signed with Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) only. At the same time, MAE leaders doubt of the electoral success of UCM. In his turn, the UCM leader, former premier Vasile Tarlev doubts of utility of MAE initiatives.

The Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM) is asking the Government to take emergent actions against economic and social collapse of Moldova. UCM leader Vasile Tarlev has told a press conference that Moldova is facing an economic crisis, though authorities hide it. Tarlev noted that the Government should create a national anti-crisis committee which would include the chief of state, state dignitaries and civil society representatives. UCM considers that the state should assist commercial banks which face difficulties. On the other hand, Tarlev assured that he does not want to alarm people. (Source: Infotag)

During March 7–8, Rome (Italy) hosted the first congress of the Association of United Moldovan Communities that brought together leaders of Moldovan communities from 12 countries. Taking part in the congress was the deputy chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), Iulian Fruntasu, who summarised PLDM actions aimed at supporting Moldovan nationals from other countries to cast their ballots at the April 5, 2009 elections. Leaders of Moldovan communities said that they will adopt a manifest upon Moldovan authorities with the purpose to demand them to respect their electoral right. As well, the PLDM deputy chairman has met leaders of the Bessarabian community from Italy. Invited by the social-cultural association of Moldovans “Bastina” from Italy, PLDM member Calin Vieru has met Bessarabians from the city of Padova. Vieru informed them about all national and international PLDM appeals aimed to ensure the electoral vote of Moldovan nationals from other countries. He invited fellow countrymen to contact their relatives from Moldova and ask them to participate in elections and vote against communists. (Source: PLDM press release)

Electoral debates organised and conducted by the public television Moldova-1 and Radio Moldova follow one purpose: to trivialise a key political arena in the 2009 electoral campaign. This opinion belongs to the Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN), which stressed that debates on public radio and television should be distinct and ample programmes to provide Moldovan people with the possibility to watch crossing positions of main political forces of the country, main electoral contestants. AMN fears that all was done to deprive the public of this possibility. “A multitude of short programmes, about 120 overall, have been scheduled on television and radio, which bring together just two electoral contestants and most of disputes are irrelevant for effective politics in Moldova. In particular, realising that it is to blame for disaster in country and being headed by coward leaders, the PCRM has minimised the danger to meet with powerful adversaries. And the lots of irrelevant debates will just irritate TV watchers.” (Source: AMN press release)

The leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), Dumitru Diacov, considers that the current scrutiny is unlike other elections because of hopeless attempts of the governing to keep the authority at all costs. The use of administrative resources, restricted access of the opposition to the public media, intimidation of opponents — all these actions compromise the essence of the democratic transfer of governing, which should be operated after free and democratic elections. Diacov stressed that PDM is not the party of somebody, but represents a united team which wants to give to people what they deserve — a better life. (Source: interview by Infotag)

Dorin Chirtoaca, deputy chairman of the Liberal Party, has participated in three meetings with Moldovans working in Italy, last weekend. “They do not like the communist bureaucracy which obstructs them to renew their passports, they worry about corruption in Moldova, they worry about being extorted and abased, inclusively about insufficient polling stations in Italy,” Chirtoaca stated. Taking part in the meetings in Rome and Bologna were about 500 Moldovan nationals, and hundreds of thousands gathered at the meeting in Padova. The PL deputy chairman called upon Moldovan nationals “to participate actively in elections at the two polling stations in Rome and Bologna and to persuade their relatives who are at home to choose the change on April 5.” According to official data, there are about 200,000 Moldovans in Italy. (Source: Unimedia)

The independent candidate to the Parliament wants to declare Russian an official language in Moldova. This is a key goal of his electoral programme, which he has formally released in Balti. Banari said that, if elected, he will initiate a referendum in this respect, inclusively on the name of state language. He also calls for the reintroduction of the former method to elect the chief of state — by a direct vote. In social sector, the independent candidate promises to table a draft law allowing people to keep working on the basis of entrepreneur’s license. As well, he promised to do his best in order to raise the average salary on economy up to 400 dollars. (Source: Infotag)

As many as 627,959 citizens of Moldova are in other countries, according to official statistics released by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) before the April 5 parliamentary elections. According to previous CEC reports, there are about 2.44 million voters in Moldova. CEC calculated the number of Moldovan voters from other countries on the basis of data by the Border Guard Service. But these accounts do not specify how many of about 628,000 Moldovan nationals from other countries are entitled to vote. This number covers Moldovans who officially and legally left Moldova and did not come back. As well, it was not established how many out of about 628,000 Moldovans have expired passports and where they are at present. According to accounts by the Ministry of Information Development, identity documents of 131,000 Moldovans are expired. (Source: Infotag)

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has announced that broadcasting institutions are welcome to open public debates with electoral candidates to the April 5 parliamentary elections. Twenty-three TV stations and 7 radio channels will organise electoral debates this year. Following TV stations will organise electoral debates: Moldova-1; Euro TV Chisinau; Pro TV Chisinau; TV 7; Albasat (Nisporeni); Teleradio Balti; TV-6 Balti; CTV Nis (Nisporeni/wire); STV-41 (Taraclia); Impuls TV (Soldanesti); Flor TV (Floresti); TV Prim (Glodeni); TV Drochia; Sor TV (Soroca); Eni Ai (Comrat); Bas TV (Basarabeasca); AVM (Edinet); Studio-L (Causeni); Canal X (Briceni); Elita TV (Rezina); Teleradio Gagauzia; Media TV (Cimislia); Art TV (Straseni); Radio channels: Radio Moldova; Radio Media (Cimislia); Bas FM (Basarabeasca); Vocea Basarabiei; Star FM (Balti); City FM, Radio Prim (Glodeni). Starting March 9, electoral debates are aired by public TV and radio stations Moldova-1 and Radio Moldova, and private radio station Vocea Basarabiei. (Source: CEC communication)