Vasile Tarlev: Elections were rigged and early polls are needed

The April 5 parliamentary elections were fixed. Early polls are needed in order to stabilize the situation in the Parliament and in the country, the leader of the Centrist Union of Moldova (UCM) and former Prime Minister (2001- 2008) Vasile Tarlev told a news conference on Thursday, Info-Prim Neo reports. The UCM leader said that the elections had been rigged as there were issued more than one loose paper that accompanies the identity card and ‘dead persons’ also voted, while the military men could vote at the unit and in the settlements where they have the domicile. “It is evident that the situation in the new legislature is tense. A new balance force like the UCM is needed in order to improve the situation. We will make everything possible to become a center-force and maintain the balance in Moldova. Otherwise, Moldova will experience permanent destabilization and serious tensions in the society that could affect Moldova’s statehood,” Vasile Tarlev said. “The early polls, regardless of their results, will be in the society’s favor. They will bring calmness and will represent a maturity and democracy test for the international organizations. If not, the tensions and confrontations in the society will be greater during the next four years.” According to Tarlev, the April 7 violent events were orchestrated by a number of political parties. “The UCM was also invited to participate in the April 7 protests, but we knew what will happen and did not want to become a scapegoat,” the former Premier explained, but did not say who issued the invitation. For early elections to take place, the Opposition must keep its word and not participate in the election of the head of state, the UCM leader said.