The speaker of the Parliament, Marian Lupu has the greatest chances to be elected as president of the Republic of Moldova at the elections in 2009, the Public Opinion Barometer shows. According to the poll, about 15% of the respondents consider that Lupu has the highest chances to become president. The Speaker is followed by Vasile Tarlev, who is considered to become the president of Moldova by 6% of the population, the leader of “Moldova Noastra” Alliance Serafim Urecheanu (3.4%), the chairman of People’s Christian Democrat Party Iurie Rosca – 2.6% etc. Only one woman made it to the top 10 – Eugenia Ostapciuc, former speaker of the Parliament, the leader of the communist faction in the Parliament, who accumulated 0.7%. Two thirds of the respondents were uncertain or gave no answer. About 78% of the persons who participated in the poll consider that the President of the Republic of Moldova should be directly voted by the population, and over 12% consider that he should be elected by the Parliament. At the same time, over 40% of the respondents declared that the President can not be at the same time the leader of a party and head of state whilst 23% admit this fact. The opinion poll was conducted by the Institute for Public Policies in the period from November 5 to 17, and involved 1150 persons from 85 towns and villages across Moldova. The poll was organized with the financial support of Soros Foundation-Moldova.