CHISINAU, November 15 (Itar-Tass) — The Commission on Moldova’s Presidential Election has not registered any candidate for president, and so the presidential election scheduled for November 18 may not take place.
“The legislation of Moldova does not give precise argumentation about whether November 18 would be counted as the first attempt to elect a president. This issue is at the discretion of Parliament, to which we will present a report on our work,” the Commission head Tudor Deliu told journalists.
On Monday, leaders of the ruling coalition Alliance for European Integration and the “Dodon Group” that left the opposition Communist Party failed to agree on a single candidate for the post. The sides remained on their positions - the former Communists propose to nominate ex-Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii, and the coalition - a former candidate, leader of the Democratic Party Marian Lupu.
“In this situation it was decided not to nominate a candidate who has not enlisted the support of 61 MPs needed for the election. Apparently, the first round of the election will not take place. Then everything will start anew and there is still time to reach an agreement,” Moldova’s Prime Minister, the Liberal Democrat leader Vlad Filat said.
“It’s a great pity that the coalition leaders did not agree to the nomination of an independent candidate. We originally said that we will not vote for a representative of the coalition,” Igor Dodon said. “The Liberals and Communists lead the country to new early elections,” Igor Dodon said.
The departure of three deputies of “Dodon’s Group” has given a chance to overcome the lingering crisis, when the parliament for two years cannot elect a president for whom 61 out of 101 parliament members should vote. The ruling coalition, formed by the Liberal Democratic, Democratic and Liberal Parties has 59 seats and the Communists - 42 mandates.
The presidential election in parliament was scheduled for November 18. If the president is not elected, there will be a second attempt. If it also fails, the parliament will be dissolved, and then Moldova will have the fourth elections over the past two years.
Moldova’s parliament will not elect president on November 18, as the presidential election will fail, the leader of the opposition Communist Party and ex-head of state Vladimir Voronin told reporters earlier. He thus commented on the withdrawal from the Communist faction of influential parliamentarians – former Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Dodon. They explain their move by the bid to help overcome a lingering political crisis, in which the parliament fails to elect president for already two years.
“Failure to elect the highest leadership of the country is one of characteristics of the incumbent authorities. They fail to do that and will fail,” Voronin said. He accused Greceanii and Dodon of treachery. “It is regrettable that some people join the party only to make a name, carrier, and then they withdraw,” he said. He also admitted that he had “expected treachery” from Dodon, but not from Greceanii.
According to Moldovan analysts, the withdrawal of three Communist deputies means that the ruling coalition Alliance for European Integration has got a chance to elect president, who needs 61 out of 101 votes. The coalition formed by the Liberal Democratic and Liberal parties has 49 seats. The Communists had the remaining 42.
“Our three votes will ensure the election of president. This difficult decision has been made to avoid an early election and get the country out of the crisis,” Dodon said, explaining his move. He added that “outdated mentality” of the party leadership and intrigues inside the party were also the reason behind that. At the same time, the deputies leaving the Communist Party have not confirmed their decision to vote for Acting President Marian Lupu, the coalition’s candidate.
Lupu, for his part, has urged the leaders of the ruling coalition to begin negotiations with the group of Dodon. “Their withdrawal from the Communist Party offers a chance to settle the political crisis,” he said. The reaction of another leader of the ruling coalition, Prime Minister Vlad Filat, was more restrained. “The pressure exerted on Dodon in the party made it clear that this would happen. Time will show what this step will result in,” Filat stressed.