The key political figures mainly kept their positions in the October rankings of the most influential Moldovan politicians, compiled on the initiative of the Institute for Political Analysis and Consultancy “Politicon”. However, the leader of the Communist Party (PCRM) Vladimir Voronin climbed to the third spot, President Nicolae Timofti slipped two positions, while Minister of Education Maia Sandu returned to the Top 10, IPN reports.

The rankings were published on the website of “Politicon”. The first two spots are occupied by Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Vlad Filat, as a month before. The Communist leader Vladimir Voronin takes the third position, followed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Natalia Gherman, who slipped one spot compared with the September rankings.

The next pistons are taken by Nicolae Timofti (fifth), the leader of the Democratic Party (PDM) Marian Lupu (sixth), Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca (seventh), Minister of Education Maia Sandu (eighth), who went up four spots, first deputy head of the PDM Vlad Plahotniuc (ninth), and Head of Parliament Igor Corman (tenth), who slipped five spots.

The October rankings were produced with the assistance of 31 experts. Each expert gave grades of 1 to 10 to the 100 politicians presented, assessing their real influence on the major political decisions taken in the country, public popularity, visibility in the media and the political prospects. In its comment, “Politicon” says the Top 20 includes the main political players involved in the campaign for the November 30 parliamentary elections, who have real chances of entering the future legislature and are among the heavyweights of the parties they represent.