Labor Party will run in legislative elections, has candidate for presidency

The Labor Party – the new name of the Labor Union “Patria-Rodina” – is in favor of amending article 78 of the Constitution by referendum. The party's leader Gheorghe Sima told a news conference on July 13 the direct election of the head of state is a first step towards strengthening the Moldovan state, Info-Prim Neo reports. Gheorghe Sima considers the election of the head of state in Parliament excludes the people with the right to vote from the democratic process and reduces the legislative body's responsibility for the people's welfare and safety. Sima said his party is ready to take part in the early legislative elections set to take place in autumn and has a candidate for the presidency. He added one of the party's priorities is to allow the trade unions to submit legislative initiatives so as to protect the employees from officials' arbitrariness.