Mark Tkachuk: Voting for AEI's candidate for presidency would mean PCRM's destruction

Communist MP Mark Tkachuk said the Communists Party (PCRM) will not vote for the candidate for the presidency proposed by the Alliance for European Integration (AEI). The party has not yet decided if they will field their own candidate, Info-Prim Neo reports. After Wednesday's sitting of the Parliament, Mark Tkachuk said the supporters of the PCRM are unanimous in their intention not to vote for the Alliance's candidate, the leader of the Democratic Party Marian Lupu. “It would mean to vote in favor of worsening the social, economic and political situation of every Moldovan family. It would mean voting for the crisis, the destruction of the PCRM and disappearance of our party from the political arena” Tkachuk said, stressing the PCRM will not change its position. Asked if the PCRM will put forward their own candidate, Tkachuk said it would not be a reasonable step. “We are realists. We will not perform circus as we have enough clowns,” he said. Another Communist MP, Victor Stepaniuc, said the parliamentary group of the PCRM could propose a candidate. “The question is if this candidate will be voted for. We must have certain guarantees and agreements,” he said. Victor Stepaniuc expressed his confidence that the AEI will not find the eight votes it needs to elect the head of state as the PCRM is united. The vote to elect the President of Moldova will be held on October 23.