New poll finds Dorin Chirtoaca leading in popularity ranking

If elections were held next Sunday, 22.9% of the voters would opt for the Communists Party (PCRM), shows a poll carried out by a sociological center from Moldova called “Socioinform” from November 25 to 30. The research was launched Wednesday in Chisinau, Info-Prim Neo reports. The PCRM is followed in popularity by Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) – 19.75%, the Liberal Party (PL) – 15.75%, the Liberal Democrat Party (PLDM) – 10.42%. Under the 6% electoral threshold would be the Centrist Union (UCM) – 5.5%, the Democratic Party (PDM) – 5.03%, PPCD – 4.95%, PNL – 4.2% and PSDM – 4.08%. Other political parties would gain less than 3%. The research shows that 77.1% of the population will go to vote in the elections of the next spring, unlike the Vox Populi poll, publicized two days earlier, highlighting that as few as 49% would go to cast their ballots. Socioinform's manager Ion Batcu, a doctor in sociology, says the results of the two poll do not differ much. Still the difference is noticeable. 21% of Vox Populi's respondents opted for the PCRM, while other parties with chances to enter the next parliament are AMN – 9%, PLDM – 8%, PL – 7%. PDM, PPCD and PSDM would gain by 3% of ballots each. In the Socioinform poll, Chisinau's mayor Dorin Chirtoaca is leading with 31.75% in popularity among politicians. He is followed by President Vladimir Voronin and former premier Vasile Tarlev both with 14.65%. Parliament's speaker Marian Lupu is backed by 13.88% of the interviewed. In the Vox Populi poll, Chirtoaca ranked the third with 29%, the most popular being Marian Lupu (35%) and Vladimir Voronin 33%. Ion Batcu says his forecasts have never been mistaken. The poll is said to have an error margin ±2%, was carried on 1,200 interviewed, and was commissioned by a Romanian businessman who paid 50,000 lei.