Diacov: We didn't want to look ridiculous

“We didn't name a second candidate for the post of president because we didn't want to look ridiculous”, MP Dumitru Diacov, the honorary president of the Democratic Party and a key member of the ruling Alliance for European Integration, said in commenting on the failed attempt to hold a presidential vote on October 23, the initially planned date, as only one candidate had registered with the Central Election Commission until the deadline, instead of at least two required. Diacov stated that “in any conditions, Marian Lupu remains the only candidate of the Alliance for European Integration for the position of head of state”. The requirement to have at least two candidates standing in the presidential election was introduced by a ruling of the Constitutional Court, but Diacov thinks it can be reconsidered: “The Constitution does not stipulate expressly the requirement to have more than one candidate registered. The Constitution says there may be (more than one candidate), which is natural, but doesn't say how many. I see no violation when the Constitution doesn't compel”, argued Diacov. Ion Plesca, the chairman of the Central Election Committee, said earlier that the Alliance for European Integration had two candidates for the post, “because electing a president means selecting from two or more persons”.