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The “Moldova Noastra” (Our Moldova) Alliance (AMN) and Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) have agreed not to participate in electoral debates organised by the TV station EuTV, which editorial policy is completely subordinated to PPCD, an ally of PCRM. Hereby, we announce our non-participation in EuTV-organised electoral debates, says a press release by AMN and PLDM. AMN and PLDM recall that EuTV decided to call electoral debates as “Electoral Epicentre”. “Knowing the editorial policy of authors of the «Epicentre» programme, we understand that the new broadcast aims to denigrate electoral contestants and distort their messages,” AMN and PLDM noted. “Thirdly, our decision is also a reaction towards fraudulent seizure of the former municipal public channels in Chisinau, Euro TV Chisinau and Radio Antena C by PPCD and PCRM, which turned them into party media tools and use them openly in electoral campaign to brighten the image of the ruling red-orange coalition and defame opposition parties,” AMN and PLDM added. (Source: PLDM & AMN press release)

A delegation from the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States started Monday their work for monitoring the parliamentary elections on April 5, 2009, at the invitation of central authorities of Moldova. “Our mandate is not to get involved in electoral process, country’s affairs and neutrality, but to observe the elections and draw conclusions,” Gorcun Vladimir, first deputy chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, has stated. The delegation is made of 80 CIS observers who are members to national parliaments, diplomats, members to electoral commissions and representatives of the CIS Executive Committee. Two teams will operate in Moldova, of them one will include long-term observers who will analyse the electoral legislation and draft an informative-methodological report for short-term observers. The second team will arrive in Moldova with 2–3 days before elections to monitor the voting. The CIS mission will be headed by CIS Executive Committee chairman Sergei Lebedev. CIS countries participate in election monitoring in member states starting 2001 and 46 such missions have been organised until now. (Source: Omega portal)

The social-political “Ravnopravie” (Equality) Movement dismisses allegations that its former chairman Valerii Klimenco alone would support the Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM) at elections, being an electoral candidate of this party. Boris Sapovalov, new chairman of “Ravnopravie”, told a press conference on Monday that Klimenco had to resign as chairperson since this was the only way to run for elections as a UCM candidate, according to effective legislation. “All allegations that Valerii Klimenco would not be our leader any longer and «Ravnopravie» or the Congress of Russian Communities in Moldova would not support him and UCM have a single purpose — to mislead the electorate. Valerii Klimenco was and will be our leader, regardless of his present official position,” Sapovalov stressed. He noted that a so-called initiative group is sending anonymous letters to editorial offices with the purpose to replace Valerii Klimenco within an extraordinary congress set for March 28. “These petty anonymous letters come from persons who do not have anything in common with our party,” the new “Ravnopravie” leader added. (Source: Infotag)

Former premier Vasile Tarlev, chairman of the Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM), claims that his party has become the target of a misinforming media campaign. He delivered such a statement at a press conference on Monday, March 16. Tarlev said that special reports are released to misinform that electors from Gagauzia do not support UCM, that UCM is against Russia, Romania, Ukraine, CIS etc. “All these misreports come from an informal specialised press centre which we call Ghoebels Centre”, the former premier stated, hinting that the centre concerned would operate at the order of the communist governing. “UCM calls for good neighbourhood with Romania and Ukraine and strategic relations with Russia, CIS and European Union. This is the truth about UCM, the rest is myth,” Tarlev assured. (Source: Infotag)

The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) will organise an ample protest called “Do Not Be Afraid of Voting” in the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau on March 22, with the participation of PLDM members and supporters from all country. By holding this protest, the liberal democrats want to send “a clear message to the communist governing that the time of terror and fear is over” and there is a capacity to mobilise for protecting rights and freedoms of citizens. The meeting will be followed by a protest march to the Presidency headquarters. PLDM asked the Interior Ministry to fulfil its duties and ensure good conditions for the PLDM-organised meeting. (Source: PLDM press release)

The Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) has reconfirmed its goal to have a democratic parliamentary majority after the April 5 elections and a government capable to ensure the true merit of people — a normal living in a state based on the rule of law, which deserves to be a full-right member of the family of European states. According to a PDM statement, last elections proved that right-wing parties are incapable to win more than one third of the seats in Parliament. “Under these conditions, connecting the political centre is the only way to build a stable, democratic parliamentary majority,” PDM said. It stressed that the “Braghis-Musuc duet is controlled by Voronin-Tcaciuc group for sure,” so that “PDM only is capable to bring a positive evolution of the country.” PDM regrets that “allegations that PDM would oscillate forward radical left-wing in post-electoral period are promoted by some liberal parties, which long for seizing a certain number of votes on this segment.” In this regard, the democrats call upon reasoning of political forces willing the change in Moldova to give up aggressive conduct and prove to electorate that they are capable to go beyond internal animosities and provide a chance to real recovery of our country on way of democracy, progress and accreditation of democratic values in Moldova. (Source: PDM press release)

The Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) accuses authorities of pressing the business environment. PDM fears that “the economic decline of Moldova is a consequence of incapacity of acting governing to handle requirements of the time, as well as of brutal interferences of politics in business… While the trade deficit reached alarming sizes and domestic producers are left on their own, there are lots of cases when businesspersons are pressed with the purpose to oblige them to contribution or to dispossess them.” The party gives the example of ASCOM Company and recalls that President Vladimir Voronin has sent a letter to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, bringing serious accusations against administration of this company which operates in Kazakhstan. “A company which has successfully operated for many years, opened jobs and paid wages to thousands of people from our country is denigrated without arguments and on basis of political reasons,” reads the statement. PDM notes that this case had “a negative national and international echo” and demands the chief of state “to withdraw his denouncement and punish the subordinates who instigated him to such actions.” (Source: Infotag)

During March 16–21, 2009, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) holds training seminars for chairpersons and secretaries of all electoral bureaus of polling stations nationwide. The training will be conducted by CEC members and employees. Seminars will focus on key tasks of electoral bureaus of polling stations and best ways to fulfil them. As well, members of electoral bureaus of polling stations will watch an instructive movie produced by CEC and International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) with the USAID assistance. It describes activities of electoral bureaus of polling stations to prepare themselves for Election Day and actions to be taken on Election Day, including the vote counting process. (Source: CEC communication)

During March 16–17, 2009, a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE led by Greek parliamentarian Petros Efthymiou will pay a pre-electoral visit to Moldova. It will meet Moldovan Speaker Marian Lupu, Eugen Stirbu, chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, Minister of Justice Vitalie Pirlog, Interior Minister Gheorghe Papuc, Philip Remler, head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, other authorities. The visit agenda also includes meetings with leaders of political parties involved in electoral campaign, representatives of Moldovan nongovernmental organisations. (Source: parliamentary communication)

The elections will be an important test for maturity of political class and entire Moldovan society. Speaker Marian Lupu delivered this statement at a March 16 meeting with a delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which is on a pre-electoral visit to Chisinau. Lupu noted that the elections shall be a consolidation of European integration actions taken by Moldova throughout the mandate of acting Parliament. We do not want a post-electoral political crisis capable to break the process of joining to the European community, would worsen the situation in conditions of a world economic crisis, the speaker stressed. The campaign, with little exceptions, is balanced and fair and this is a proof of more maturity of electoral contestants, the speaker estimated. The sides also approached aspects relating to preparations for forthcoming parliamentary elections, including participation of nationals from Transnistria and other countries. (Source: parliamentary communication)

“Moldova Noastra” (Our Moldova) Alliance (AMN) organised a protest in front of the Government on Sunday “saying adieu to the communist governing.” Taking part in the meeting were approximately 500 AMN members and supporters. Veaceslav Untila, first vice-chairman of AMN, noted that by organising the meeting, AMN “has said adieu to the communist governing.” AMN Deputy Leonid Bujor stated that protestors includes representatives of various social groups — students, jobseekers, retirees etc., “that means all those lied by the communist governing.” Protestors shouted anti-communist slogans, carried portraits of highest-ranking authorities and a huge banner called “Tintareni Garbage”. This way they wanted to tell that “garbage is the place for communists”. Serghei Sirbu, a representative of the Party of Communists to the Central Electoral Commission, said that the protest was a violation of ethical norms and Election Code, “which bans such an electoral propaganda.” He did not exclude the possibility to demand competent authorities to reprimand AMN for breaches. (Source: Infotag)

Chisinau hosted the Conference of Liberal Democratic Student Clubs on March 14. It brought together 450 young people representing Moldovan institutions of higher learning. The chairman of the Youth Organisation of PLDM, George Mocanu, said that six Liberal Democratic Student Clubs operating in USM, ULIM, UTM, USMF, USEFS and ASEM have been accredited and initiative groups are working in other Moldovan institutions of higher learning to set up clubs. Following the meeting of Liberal Democratic Student Clubs, young people held a protest march to the Presidency headquarters, shouting “Green Light to Moldova!”, “Wake Up Moldova!”, “Spring is Coming, Everything is Green,” “You Decide in Your Country!” (Source: PLDM press release)