Communist Party leader Vladimir Voronin says he wants a third presidential tenure to help the country through the “difficult times”, IPN reports.
Speaking at a talk-show on Realitatea TV, Voronin said this wasn't a personal ambition but rather an obligation he owed to his party's voters. “We should bear in mind that over 300,000 people voted for the PCRM and we must defend their interests”, he argued.
Voronin went on to add that he expected the parties of the prospective pro-European coalition to offer him the job themselves, or see himself field his candidature. “I've accumulated a rich experience in my previous two terms and throughout my political career. My job's approval in 2009 was greater than 60 percent and polls show that a significant part of the Moldovans trust me greatly. Our country is now experiencing difficult times and I am the perfect man for the job”, stated Voronin.
He reiterated his party's recently voiced availability to cooperate with the pro-European parties in exchange for some key offices and called on the European authorities to persuade the prospective coalition members to share. “(EU Delegation Head Pirkka) Tapiola and the EU are watching us closely, so it's not some whim of ours, but it's rather their obligation to offer some offices to the opposition as required by the European norms”, argued Voronin.
When Nicolae Timofti's first term expires in the spring of 2016, Vladimir Voronin will be 75, which in the eventuality of his election would make him the oldest President to assume office in Moldova's history.
