59% of Moldovans want electoral system to be changed, poll

18.07.2017 12:17
1830
2 minute(s)

Some 30% of the respondents of a poll commissioned by the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) consider the MPs should enter Parliament based on the uninominal voting system, while 24% are for introducing the mixed-member electoral system. Also, 59% of those polled consider the current electoral system should be changed, IPN reports.

72% of the respondents said they heard about the intention to change the electoral system. Asked how Parliament should act, 53% of those polled said the legislative body should use its sovereign right to decide the replacement of the electoral system if most of the citizens want this. At the same time, 38% said Parliament should take into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission and should not change the electoral system now.

Asked what the current Parliament should do when the largest part of the population wants the electoral system to be replaced, but the EU intends to penalize Moldova if this is replaced, 60% of those polled said Parliament should listen to the people’s will and should change the electoral system, while 33% said Parliament should take into account the warnings of the EU and should renounce the electoral system change. Also, 61% of those polled said if the EU penalizes Moldova if this introduces the mixed-member electoral system, this will be an incorrect decision.

Some 49% of the respondents said they have a negative opinion about the Democratic Party’ decision to abandon the initiative to introduce the uninominal voting system and now supports the switchover to the mixed-member electoral system, while 43% said they would be dissatisfied if the PDM renounces the implementation of the mixed electoral system after renouncing the uninominal system.

The poll was carried out by the IMAS Institute for Marketing and Polls on a sample of 1,111 persons from 76 communities.

Asked by journalists how much the PDM spent on the promotion of the uninominal voting system, the PDM’s spokesman Vitalie Gamurari refused to give figures, saying the information about the party’s costs is reported to the Central Election Commission.