PCRM suggests holding three rounds of presidential elections in Parliament

The Communists Party (PCRM) says the head of state should be elected in Parliament by three rounds. A bill to modify article 78 of the Constitution, which describes the procedure for electing the President, was submitted by the Communist parliamentary group to the Constitutional Court on March 31, Info-Prim Neo reports. The PCRM could not reach a consensus with the Alliance for European Integration and thus chose such a move, it is said in a communique from the party. Several weeks ago, the president of the PCRM proposed the leaders of the Alliance to sign a reconciliation pact by March 31. The PCRM's bill says the head of state should be elected by a secret vote by 61 votes. If no candidate polls the necessary number of votes, a second round of voting is held within five workdays, where the winning candidate must garner 57 votes. The two candidates who poll most of the votes in the second round compete in the third round of voting that is held during five days. The candidate who obtains a majority of votes becomes a winner. If the President is not elected by three rounds, the caretaker head of state dissolves the Parliament within 10 workdays and sets the date of early elections. The elections must be held within 60 days from the dissolution of the Parliament. In 2009, the Parliament failed four times to elect the head of state.