Posted on 03/06/2005 7:57:57 PM PST by Pikamax
Communists poised to win Moldovan poll - and reject Russia
Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow Monday March 7, 2005 The Guardian
Moldova yesterday voted in a parliamentary election that appeared to speed the impoverished European country towards being the latest former Soviet Union country to wrestle itself free from the grip of Moscow through the ballot box. The ruling Communist party, the last in Europe, won 40% of the vote, according to exit polls, on a ticket of EU integration and economic growth that bore no resemblance to its Soviet roots.
The exit poll gave the opposition Moldovan Democratic Bloc, which has threatened protests if the vote is "stolen", 29%.
Moldovan MPs appoint the president, and the Communist party, headed by incumbent President Vladimir Voronin, needs to secure 61 of the 101 seats on offer to give him a second term. However, last night's figures suggested the party may fall short of enough seats for a clear majority.
Turnout at 9pm local time was nearly 64%.
Ana Vasentciuc, 70, who receives a monthly pension of 437 lei (about £18), told Reuters: "I voted for the Communists because they look after the old people and they doubled my pension."
The Central Elections Committee said yesterday officials had not detected any violations and the head of the opposition bloc, Serafim Urechean, told reporters that he did not think there would be a "revolution in the republic".
The common pro-western platform of the three main parties focused the campaign on the differing degrees of distance they want from Russia. A quarter of the country's working population lives abroad, many in Russia. Moscow also has 1,500 troops in the breakaway Moldovan region of Transdniestria.
The three parties are also hoping to capitalise on the new pro-western sentiment sweeping across Moscow's former sphere of influence.
The government has polished its new anti-Russian credentials, denying access to 100 Russian "observers" at the weekend, according to the Moscow media, and earlier expelling 20 Russians as spies.
Mr Voronin, who has said he will move to rename his party after the election, said while voting yesterday: "I voted for the Moldovan people, for Moldova's prosperity".
Mr Urechean, the leader of the opposition Moldovan Democratic bloc, told Interfax while casting his vote: "The future of Moldova and of its further development is being decided today. Voters must think about their country's future and the future of their children and grandchildren."
His bloc has the least hostile approach to Moscow. It was formed last year with the help of American NGOs.
I wonder what the stance of US Department of State is for the independence and recognition of Transdniestria.
The Duma was going to pass a law that increased the amount of troops in Transdnestria due to aggressive nature of actions Moldova manifested recently.
Ana Vasentciuc, 70, who receives a monthly pension of 437 lei (about £18), told Reuters: "I voted for the Communists because they look after the old people and they doubled my pension."
“They steal wealth from the kids and give it to me!”
AARP International.
It is ironic that there is a pro-US Communist party.
You could be describing the Democratic Party, except for the "pro-US" part.
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