The Communist Party (PCRM) does not belong to Vladimir Voronin, even if he has many merits, and time has come for him to leave, Communist lawmaker Grigore Petrenco said in the program “Politics” on TV7 channel. On the other hand, experts invited to the program “Fabrika”, produced by Publika TV channel, consider the PCRM has no chance without Voronin, IPN reports.

Grigore Petrenco noted that Vladimir Voronin is not interested in winning the elections set for November 2014 and that it is more suitable for him to stay in the opposition. The PCRM can win the elections only if Voronin is removed from the party’s leadership. “Nobody believes now in what Voronin says. The situation can be changed only from inside the party and this should be done before the electoral period,” he stated.

The Communist MP described the actions of his party chief as betrayal, saying that he sold the party to businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc. “I don’t know why Voronin is afraid of Plahotniuc. It’s not normal for a party leader to change his position every time. Voronin must assume responsibly for such mistakes,” stated Petrenco.

On the other hand, a group of experts participating simultaneously in the program “Fabrika” stated the PCRM cannot win the elections without Vladimir Voronin.

Political commentator Ion Tabarata said Vladimir Voronin became the symbol of the PCRM and the PCRM is equal to Voronin. “It’s hard for me to believe that the PCRM will keep such a considerable monopoly on the Moldovan voters if Voronin leaves. After Voronin leaves, this segment of voters will separate,” he stated.

Journalist Valeriu Renita, ex-adviser to President Vladimir Voronin, descried Petrneco’s actions as a farce. “Tkachuk, Petrenko and the camp of rebels agreed the list of the future candidates for seats of MP with Voronin. Petrenco’s decision is a trick aimed at keeping the conflict hot. His assertion that he wants to become the party’s chairman is false. He has always been controlled by Tkachuk,” he said.

Journalist Valentin Buda also said that Petrenco has no chance. “Pentrenco, Tkachuk and Muntean have no power in the party. They do not have the ability to bring people and to form another party,” he stated.

On July 9, Grigore Petrenco called upon the members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party to convoke the extraordinary congress where to reelect the party’s administration. He fielded himself for the post of chairman and said the PCRM can win the elections, but without Vladimir Voronin, who ‘sold’ the party to the oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc and accepted the role of loyal opposition.

The PCRM staff issued a communiqué, saying that Grigore Petrenco’s statements form part of his latest actions whose goal is a clear one – to discredit and denigrate the PCRM in the period before the parliamentary elections. The members of the Central Committee of the PCRM stated their position on such acts in the last plenary meeting, on June 7.

On June 7, MPs Mark Tkachuk, Iurie Munteanu and Grigore Petrenco were removed from the party’s administrative bodies.