The Social-Democrat Party of Moldova (PSDM) and the Social Democracy Party (PDS) have agreed to merge by the end of the year. The merger congress is scheduled for December 22, the leaders of the merging parties told a news conference today. PDS leader Dumitru Braghis said the fusion was recently decided by the national councils of both parties. The main goal of their members is to offer a new and attractive political option for the largest part of Moldova’s population. Speaking about the Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM), which also expressed its willingness to join, Braghis said UCM will convene its National Council on November 17 to decide on this matter. The doors of a stronger social democracy are always open for UCM as well as for any other similar party, with some of them already engaged in negotiations, said Braghis, without telling exactly which. Eduard Musuc stated for his part that the first step towards the merger will be the congress on December 22. It will be followed by a series of measures for strengthening the party at local level. A second congress will be convened on April 12 to elect the new members of the National Council and adopt a political programme for the 2009 parliamentary elections. Musuc also let slip that the name on the merged organisation will be the Social-Democrat Party, but didn’t give any details as to what will happen with the PSDM’s emblem and other symbols. The two leaders said the topic of the future president of the unified party remained untouched, but specified that the question will be decided by a secret vote. In addition, they emphasised that the party will be in stern opposition to the present ruling party and ruled out any post-election alliance with it. At present, PSDM, PDS and UCM have allied themselves at local level after the June 3 local elections.