Moldova needs several strong political parties to cope with the provocations of the ruling party. The parties that have less clear or coherent doctrinaire options should review their behaviour on the political arena, considers the chairman of the Social Liberal Party (PSL) Oleg Serebrian, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The political leaders should ask themselves if it is worth playing with the electorate and democracy in Moldova at the 2009 elections that will be very difficult,” the PSL leader said at a news conference on February 8. Oleg Serebrian says that he does not understand the leaders of political parties that though convinced that they cannot secure more than 1, 2, 3 or even 4% in the polls, venture into remaining on the political arena in the current format. “The chance to enter the next Parliament, to do something as political leaders is incomparably greater if acting as part of a united party,” Oleg Serebrian said, refereeing to the PSL’s decision to merge with the Democratic Party. The merger congress will take place on February 10. The MPs Valentina Stratan and Igor Klipii were designated as PSL candidates for the post of vice presidents of the new party. Speaking about the PSL’s performance on the political arena, Serebrian stressed that the party appeared in a difficult moment, went through turbulence but succeeded in meeting the challenges. “We did not manage to become a large party, but we have definitely been a medium party. We remained a political party that always has had its word to say,” the PSL said. Oleg Serebrian said that he does not exclude certain challenges even at the merger congress, but they are ready to face them. Asked to say why a number of members of the territorial organisations in Stefan Voda and Criuleni left the party and joined the Liberal Democratic Party, Serebrian described the event as “cheap fireworks”. In the same connection, the MP Igor Klipii said that given that the Communist Party is in crisis and is interested in provoking confusion on the emocratic segment, all the Democrats should act in such a way as to show that the Communist government and their deviations are the major menace and not the nasty acts committed on the right wing segment. About 800 delegates are invited to the merger congress of the PSL and PSM of February 10.