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Journalist Vasile Grozavu has sued the chairman of the “Moldova Noastra” (Our Moldova) Alliance (AMN), Serafim Urechean, accusing him of violating copyrights while printing an electoral book. The former adviser of Serafim Urechean when the latter was mayor-general of Chisinau accuses the AMN leader of having inserted a number of articles and interviews in the volume “Ramin al vostru” (Truly Yours) without Grozavu’s consent. Grozavu seeks a 9-million-leu damage for violation of copyrights and moral damages. During a press conference Grozavu made revelations about “dictatorial behaviour” of former mayor Urechean in the municipal media empire he had controlled. “The biweekly I was chairing became embarrassing with 10–12 pictures of Urechean per issue. That was also the case of the news agency and radio Antena C and the municipal television station involved in publishing eulogistic articles about former mayor,” the former editor-in-chief of the municipal newspaper Capitala stated. Grozavu noted that he had left Urecheanu’s team because he was deceived with the clientele way the electoral list of AMN was issued and incapacity of AMN to guarantee Moldova’s accession to Euro-Atlantic organisations. (Source: Moldpres)

The “Moldova Noastra” Alliance (AMN) notifies electoral authorities, law enforcement bodies and observers of parliamentary elections in connection with delinquent methods used by communist provokers during campaign. The “Elections-2009” camp has turned from organiser of the PCRM campaign into a diversionist centre ready to apply dirtiest and most extremist methods in order to prevent the subversion of the Voronin clan. AMN warns that “both this corrupt clan and authors of provocations capable to destabilise the final of electoral campaign will be punished one day”. According to an AMN statement, communist electioneers disguised in yellow disseminated leaflets in the rayon of Causeni on Wednesday, March 18, claiming that they represent AMN and openly bribing and inviting people to elect this party. An operator accompanying them was recording the show with the certain purpose to fabricate a compromising report. The territorial AMN organisation has appealed to the district prosecutor’s office and police immediately, asking them to investigate the case and find the offenders, as well as the territorial electoral commission. (Source: AMN statement)

The Moldovan opposition considers that President Vladimir Voronin’s visit to Moscow did not resolve anything relating to the Transnistrian settlement despite the signing of a joint statement revealing positions of Moldova, Transnistrian region and Russia on resolution of this problem. The chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, Vlad Filat, said “it was clear from the very beginning that the meeting had an electoral purpose.” By signing the joint declaration, the parties called for a peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and resumption of the “5+2” negotiations. “Everybody wants it! Of course, it is positive, but why repeating previous positions?! It would be better to take actions and implement them,” Filat said. He noted that even the statement on readiness to replace the peacekeeping contingent under the OSCE aegis “is declarative, as it envisages the humanitarian prospect to settle the Transnistrian conflict.” Nor the chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Dumitru Braghis, expected the Moscow meeting to make “cardinal decisions, as no one discusses serious issues during electoral campaign.” “Anyway, no matter what agreements have been reached and what the signed document stipulates, this shall be discussed with the new leadership which will be elected on April 5,” Braghis stated. According to the first vice-chairman of “Moldova Noastra” Alliance, Veaceslav Untila, “the communists have proved in eight years of rule that they are incapable to settle the Transnistrian conflict and, therefore, they should not be expected to make real progresses in this area.” “Only the new leadership which will be elected on April 5 will be able to settle the Transnistrian conflict”, Untila said. (Source: Infotag)

“Actiunea Europeana” (European Action) Social-Political Movement (MAE) has addressed an open letter to signatories to the National Anti-Corruption Pact, Valerian Hortolomei, chairman of the Republican Party, Vlad Filat, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, Serafim Urechean, chairman of the “Moldova Noastra” (Our Moldova) Alliance, Dumitru Diacov, chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova, Ana Tkaci, chairwoman of the Party of Spiritual Development “Moldova Unita” (United Moldova). The letter has a “white resignation” attachment drafted by MAE for future legislators, signatories to the Anti-Corruption Pact, should they forget their commitment to respect their commitments. “I commit myself to tender my resignation as member to the Parliament of Moldova shall I elect a candidate to the Presidency of the Republic of Moldova nominated by any communist political party or allies,” reads the “white resignation” drafted by MAE for parties which joined anti-corruption commitments. (Source: MAE press release)

The Liberal Party (PL) has definitively estranged itself from ideals promoted by the democratic right-wing, since this party did not sign the National Anti-Corruption Pact released by “Actiunea Europeana” (European Action) Movement (MAE) and signed by five political parties from Moldova, MAE chairman Anatol Petrencu has told a press conference. “We are glad that you support us at this first stage, unlike other democratic parties such as PL, which has self-isolated completely from our ideals,” Petrencu stated. In this respect, Vitalia Pavlicenco, electoral candidate on behalf of MAE, said that PL “has self-isolated because it is not open to support initiatives of others.” At the same time, Petrencu stressed the necessity to sanction representatives of parties who did not resist to corruption and were lured by this scourge. Petrencu invited all political parties to erase corrupt candidates from their electoral lists. (Source: Omega portal)

The TV channels NIT, N4, Moldova-1 and EuTV provide an unfair and biased coverage of political players in the electoral campaign for the 2009 parliamentary elections. This is a finding of the second report worked out by the Electronic Press Association during February 18 — March 3, 2009. According to the report, the TV channels concerned keep ignoring legal regulations on media coverage of electoral campaign. At the same time, these channels defies the Election Coverage Regulation of the Central Electoral Commission, advantaging some political players ( PPCD on EuTV, PCRM on Moldova-1, N4, NIT) and disadvantaging others, particularly PLDM, PL and AMN. On the other hand, ProTV, TV7 and TVC 21 generally meet regulations of broadcasting legislation in terms of political-social equilibrium and pluralism. Unlike the last period (February 4–17), this time (between February 18 and March 3) the Liberal Party loses the lead to the Party of Communists but keeps being part of the group of political players covered most in a negative light, besides “Moldova Noastra” Alliance, PCRM and Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova. (Source: Unimedia)

The Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) is calling upon opposition political parties to start checking voter rolls immediately, in order to prevent a possible fraud of the April 5 parliamentary elections, PDM deputy chairman Oazu Nantoi told a press conference on Wednesday. The call comes after the Central Electoral Commission reported that voter rolls include 2,550,000 people, with this number revealing an inexplicable rise of about 146,000 persons compared with the 2007 elections. Nantoi told journalists that PD representatives to electoral councils have been intimidated and this fact confirms the plans of certain political forces to fully control these councils. Speaking about danger of parliamentary election fraud, Nantoi did not rule out that the accreditation of CIS observers at the parliamentary elections could aim to valid elections at any costs and eventually counterbalance reports by OSCE observers. (Source: PDM press release)

The vice-chairman of the Liberal Party (PL), Dorin Chirtoaca, will meet Moldovan students from Galati, Iasi, Suceava and Bucharest during March 18–20, 2009. Discussions themed “A Young Man for a European Future” will focus on condition of young Bessarabians from Romania and Moldova and the way local and national authorities from both countries understand problems of students: simplifying the admission procedure in Romania, raising scholarships, providing facilities to Moldovan citizens to get employed and get labour permits, granting the Romanian citizenship, resolving the visa problem, etc. As well, Chirtoaca will tackle Moldovan parliamentary elections and ways for Moldovan nationals from other countries to cast their ballots. (Source: PL press release)

The Liberal Party (PL) does not like to participate in electoral debates organised by EuTV station. PL fears that the electoral policy of this TV station would violate moral norms and journalistic deontology, being “focussed on manipulating and misinforming the public.” By deploying its representative Ion Cebanu, PL has participated in an electoral debate aired by this TV station, in order to inform TV watchers why it has made this decision. “EuTV reports which libelled PL runners to Parliament without any grounds and accused them of having criminal records without providing legal evidence and PL position are just an example that this TV channel attempted to misinform the public. During EuTV debates on March 17 Ion Cebanu introduced judicial decisions confirming the innocence of persons denigrated by this TV channel.” Earlier, another two parties, “Moldova Noastra” (Our Moldova) Alliance and Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova have decided not to participate in EuTV debates. (Source: PL press release)

The Interior Ministry (MAI) recalls upon political contestants to refrain during electoral campaign from deliberately politicising the police activity in combating crimes and to avoid actions which attempt on the rule of law, says a MAI statement released after March 17 events, when a young group protested and violated the legislation on public assembly. Given emotions of some parties involved in electoral campaign and recent actions in front of MAI, destructive forces could aim to destabilise the situation in Chisinau municipality through provocations and deliberately defame the police image in front of people by flagrantly violating the legislation on public assembly and attempting on public security, rallying minors actively. MAI gives the example of March 17 developments, when key avenues of Chisinau municipality, Stefan cel Mare Boulevard, Puskin, Armeneasca and Alexandru cel Bun Streets were blocked for three hours, so that the circulation of transport and pedestrians was stopped. According to MAI, majority of participants in protests were minor teenagers, schoolchildren and students of educational institutions. (Source: Moldpres)

The 21 runners involved in electoral campaign have spent more than 17 million lei until now, the Central Electoral Commission said in the second financial report. The largest amounts were spent by the Party of Communists, Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova and Social Democratic Party. At the same time, the Conservative Party, “Pentru Neam si Tara” (For Nation and Country) Political Party, Labour Union “Patria-Rodina” (Homeland) and Republican Party did not spend any coin for the time being. The CEC financial report reveals expenses by electoral contestants until March 17, 2009. According to income and expense financial reports of the electoral candidates, the Party of Communists has spent the largest amount, 3.8 million lei, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova with 3.7 million lei and Social Democratic Party with about 3.1 million lei. They are followed by “Moldova Noastra” (Our Moldova) Alliance, which spent about 1.9 million lei, Democratic Party with about 1.4 million lei, “Actiunea Europeana” (European Action) Movement — about 1 million lei, and Liberal Party nearly 900,000 lei. So far, the Christian Democratic People’s Party has spent the least — 629,000 lei, followed by Centrist Union of Moldova with about 406,000 lei, while the Conservative Party did not spend any funds on campaign. Stefan Uratu has spent the largest amount among independent candidates, 50,000 lei, followed by Sergiu Banari with 36,000 lei. Other candidates did not report their incomes and expenses. (Source: Unimedia)

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC0 has forewarned the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM) for violating the Election Code. In particular, the Democratic Party of Moldova is seeking the withdrawal of the contestant PCRM from electoral race, as the weekly newspaper “Comunistul” does not contain the column “Elections 2009” but publishes electoral articles advertising the PCRM and does not specify that they are paid from electoral fund. In his turn, Serghei Sarbu, PCRM representative to CEC, replied that he will contest the CEC decision in the Court of Appeal. According to CEC, the weekly newspaper has published electoral articles advantaging the electoral candidate PCRM and criticising other contestants. Although the Party of Communists is the founder of the periodical Comunistul, CEC noted that the party should include the newspaper in financial reports submitted to CEC during electoral campaign. (Source: Unimedia)