Communists promise €500 wage in a social, European and CIS-integrated Moldova

The Moldovan Communists Party (PCRM) enters the parliamentary race under the slogan “Let’s build a European Moldova together!” and an electoral program with the same theme, which was published recently in the partisan paper “The Communist”, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Communists are looking for their third consecutive victory in the parliamentary elections, due to be held on April 5, and promise that the next government term, 2009-2013, will focus on four directions: building of a social state, economic revival, integrationist approach, and civic unity and security for the country. At the ‘social state’ component, the Communists Party promises to raise the average monthly wage to three times the subsistence level, but no lower than €500; to raise the average monthly pension to a degree that would exceed the subsistence level; to guarantee fully subsidized education until 2013; to consolidate the public healthcare system by adopting international standards. For the ‘economic revival’, the PCRM intends to double revenues to the State Budget; to increase by six times investments into the Moldovan economy; to extend economic and cultural modernization to the country’s districts; to create and develop new sectors of the economy; to modernize infrastructure; to guarantee the food security of the country; and improve the environment. The ‘integrationist approach’ promised by the PCRM implies an advanced level in the relationship with the European Union and drawing of European projects into Moldova, on the one hand, and stronger ties with Russia and all the CIS countries, on the other hand. To guarantee the security of the state and the unity of its inhabitants, the PCRM will further promote the principle of Moldova’s territorial integrity in its efforts to settle the Transnistrian conflict, in an arrangement where Transnistria may count on a special status. Ethical and cultural diversity will be fostered. The PCRM published its program the day after applying for registration with the Central Election Commission, the last stage before it may officially start campaigning. The top three names on the Communists Party’s list are President Vladimir Voronin (also the president of the party), Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu, and Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanyi.