Election of Writers Union president has failed

The election of the president of the Writers Union failed on Friday due to procedural error. Technically, the duel between the incumbent president, Academician Mihai Cimpoi, and the vice president, poet Arcadie Suceveanu, was won by the latter with 89 to 76 votes. Suceveanu has told Info-Prim Neo that several ballots were canceled because the assistants failed to mark them with a second stamp. The board of the Union will be convoked next week to decide what to do next. According to Suceveanu, there are two ways: either hold a repeat election or resort to a court of law. Mihai Cimpoi couldn't be found for comments, but on Fiday he said that a repeat election could be conducted on November 28, concomitantly with the national legislative elections. The General Assembly of the Union, during which the election was held on Friday, was attended by the leaders of the Moldovan government. Prime Minister Vlad Filat said in his speech that the writers have been the spearhead of the intellectuals and it should remain so in the future. Acting President Mihai Ghimpu said the writers had a great role in reviving the national values and in stimulating the country's European ambitions. Mihai Cimpoi has been president of the Writers Union since 1991, now running for reelection for the fifth time.