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If parliamentary elections took place next week, six political organizations would get into the Parliament: the Party of Communists (PCRM), the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), the Democratic Party (PDM), the “Patria (Homeland)” Party, the Liberal Party (PL) and the Party of Socialists (PSRM). These data come from the opinion poll presented today by the Association of Sociologists and Demography Researchers of Moldova. According to the survey, votes would go to the PCRM (21.8%), PLDM (15.4%), PDM (11.3%), “Patria (Homeland)” (8.1%), PL (7.8%), PSRM (7.5%) and Antimafia People’s Movement (2.4%). The poll also shows that over 12% of citizens do not know who to vote for. As for participation in this year’s parliamentary elections, 57% of respondents said they would definitely vote, 26% said they would probably vote, 8% would not go to vote, and 5% would definitely no go to vote.

In terms of trust for parties, the PCRM leads the rating with 37%, followed by the PLDM with 34%, PDM with 30%, “Patria (Homeland)” with 29%, PL with 25%, PSRM with 22%. Results also show that the most trusted is the PCRM leader Vladimir Voronin (20.2%), Prime Minister Iurie Leancă (18.6%), PLDM leader Vlad Filat (11.6%), PDM leader Marian Lupu (10.1%), Renato Usatîi (8.9%), PSRM leader Igor Dodon (8.4%), Dorin Chirtoacă (3.7%), Zinaida Greceanîi (3.2%), PL leader Mihai Ghimpu (2.4%).

The opinion poll was conducted between 11 and 20 October on a sample of 1,063 persons in 71 localities of the republic. The margin of error is ±3%.

On 26 October 2014, the Liberal Party (PL) officially entered the campaign for the elections of 30 November 2014. At the event, Chisinau Mayor and Prime Vice President of the PL Dorin Chirtoaca announced that he would soon resign from the office of Mayor in order to engage into the electoral campaign under no. 2 in the list of candidates. Speaking about the elections of 30 November, Dorin Chirtoaca underlined that it is not only a competition between parties, but also a competition between the two ways for the country to follow. “We are not choosing between parties, between green, red, blue, pink, between flowers, trees, sickles, red stars or other symbols. We are choosing between the future and the past, between prosperity and poverty, between peace and war, between to be and not to be, between the European Union and the so-called Customs Union,” the liberal said. We shall mention that the pillars of the PL’s electoral program are integration into the NATO along with European integration; promotion of Romanian national values in the Republic of Moldova; and provision of corruption-free government.

Vlad Filat, head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), said at the “Fabrika” show on Publika TV channel that after the elections of 30 November his party will accept to become part of a governing coalition formed only from pro-European parties. According to Filat, “the PLDM does not aim at getting into government at any cost, but only in order to be able to continue and make irreversible the European course of the Republic of Moldova. In this sense, only the governing coalition with pro-European parties is possible.” For the same reasons, the leader of liberal democrats admitted the possibility of a coalition with the Liberal Party, despite previous frequent clashes with its leader. // IPN

The Democratic Party (PDM) and the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) are the ones with the largest expenses in this electoral campaign. According to financial reports for the period of 10–23 October, submitted to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and published on its website, the PDM spent 9.26 million lei and the PLDM spent 9.5 million lei, and the most money went for advertizing and organization of electoral events. The PLDM declared that the money was offered by 65 donors, and the PDM had 450 donors. Also, the Liberal Reformatory Party indicated in its financial report expenses of 2.87 million lei, offered by 35 of its members and supporters, and the Party of Socialists invested 1.836 million lei in the first two weeks of the campaign. The expenses of the Party of Communists make up 800 thousand lei offered by over 120 persons. Also, the People’s Party reported expenses of 217 thousand lei, the “Alegerea Moldovei — Uniunea Vamala (Moldova’s Choice — the Customs Union)” Electoral Bloc — 64 thousand lei, the Antimafia Movement — 39 thousand lei, the National Liberal Party — 2.4 thousand lei and the Christian Democratic People’s Party — 2 thousand lei. The smallest expenses, of only 50 lei, were reported by the Reformatory Communist Party. The “Renastere (Renaissance)” Party and the Liberal Party reported zero income and zero expenses. The “Democratia Acasa (Democracy at Home)” Party, “Patria (Homeland)” Party and the People’s Power Party have not yet presented financial reports. // IPN

At a press conference, Renato Usatii, candidate on the list of the “Patria (Homeland)” Party, said he was bringing a lawsuit against the Liberal Democratic Party leader Vlad Filat for defamation, claiming damages of 10 million lei. Usatii explained that the ex-prime minister had lately been discrediting him, naming him half-bandit and half-secret service officer. Also, Renato Usatii presented proof that between 2010 and 2013 he held the office of “Main State Counselor of Prime Minister” Vlad Filat, and that between 2009 and 2013 he had a “special ticket” that exempted him from police checks when driving. On the other hand, the press service of the Liberal Democratic Party issued a press release denying these allegations.

The Liberal Reformatory Party (PLR) issued a statement for the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), the Ministry of Justice and the Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Ensuring Equality, in which it noted some irregularities in the names of the parties registered with the CEC. According to the PLR, some parties have in their names the phrase “political party” and some don’t, although all electoral contestants in the list represent political parties. Also, the PLR asked the Ministry of Justice to acknowledge that the phrase “political party” is not an integral part of the name Liberal Reformatory Party and to send to the Central Electoral Commission a letter indicating the full name of the PLR — Liberal Reformatory Party. In this context, the PLR appeals to electoral contestants and public institutions to conduct a fair, honest and neutral electoral campaign according to the law.

Beginning on 27 October, the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) initiates protests all over the country against the Government decision to open 5 voting precincts in the Russian Federation. According to a press release, socialists are thus accusing the government of violating the fundamental right to vote for 700,000 Moldovan citizens working in the Russian Federation and of depriving of voting rights the 150 thousand pensioners having Soviet-type passports. In this context, during protests socialists will be demanding creation of 70 voting precincts in Russia, extension of the possibility to vote with Soviet-type passports until 1 July 2015 and compensations for agricultural manufacturers and farmers.

Activist Oleg Brega submitted documents to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to be registered as an independent candidate for the parliamentary elections of 30 November 2014. Brega presented his electoral symbol, representing a person on a bicycle holding a megaphone and the word CURAJ [courage] in the bottom. In addition to the package of personal documents, the activist also submitted 2,361 signatures of supporters from almost 40 localities and the property statement. // politik.md

At a press conference, Artur Resetnicov, head of the electoral staff of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), said that his party will closely monitor voting on the day of the parliamentary elections, which will enable calculation of results before the Central Electoral Commission, so that the PCRM will present totals online immediately after closure of voting precincts. “We are preparing an unpleasant surprise for the CEC. For the first time in Moldova, we will monitor electronically the summing up of results at every voting precinct, so that votes could not be changed, distorted, stolen when they reach the CEC. The exact mechanism will be announced on the eve of the elections. We will be able to find out the results sooner than the CEC”, Resetnicov said. // noi.md