PLDM accused of conspiring with Communist Party

Social-Political Movement for People and Country calls as populist the initiative of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) on the initiation of a countrywide referendum for the amendment and completion of some articles of the Constitution and of the Electoral Code, with regard to the election of the Moldovan President by the population, Info-Prim Neo reports. Movement head, Nicolae Utica, told Tuesday at a news conferee that all these initiatives aim at dividing the centre-right wing electorate, so as in 2009 the PLDM to come to power hand-in-hand with the Communist Party. “When were they honest – when they voted for President Voronin or now, when they chant the slogan “Moldova without Voronin. Moldova without communists?” Utica asked rhetorically. Such initiatives, he says, have chances to be implemented only after 2009 parliamentary elections, as the procedure of amending and completing the Constitution is within the Parliament’s competence, but now, with a communist majority, the legislature will never vote for them. Nicolae Utica brings as proof the fact that in 2003 the Social-Democratic Alliance forwarded similar initiatives. Even if they collected 200,000 signatures, which were recognized by the Central Electoral Commission as valid, the Parliament, with a communist majority, did not come to any decision, the cited source informs. In line with the stipulations of the Constitution, of the Electoral Code and considering simple mathematic calculations, a period of approximately 460 days is needed for the organization and holding of a referendum across the country, whose purpose is the amendment of the Moldovan Constitution and the change of the electoral system, Nicolae Utica says. But, there are only 360 days left before parliamentary elections. The Social-Political Movement for People and Country is of the opinion that the Communist Party will lose the 2009 parliamentary elections. Nicolae Utica mentioned that it is necessary to unify the centre-right democratic forces. At the same time, he said, the movement he represents will not join the parties that had voted for the present ruling party, calling them traitors. Nicolae Utica enumerated the Alliance “Moldova Noastra”, the Liberal Party and the European Action Movement as the partners he would like to negotiate with. The Social-Political Movement for People and Country was registered on 17 July 2007, consisting at present of about 9,000 members. The Movement declared itself as pro European and pro Romanian. During another news conference, held Tuesday, 12 February, PLDM leader, Vladimir Filat, stated that if somebody sees the movement “Moldova without Voronin. Moldova without communists” as a populist one, for him this is the purpose of his life, at present.