“Vladimir Voronin is a tool that Mark Tkaciuk is using very expertly. When Voronin is replaced as party leader, Mark Tkaciuk will do his best to ensure that PCRM has a president as amenable and manipulable as Voronin”, stated political analyst Anatol Taranu at a press conference dedicated to discussions on Moldova's most influential politicians. Taranu suggested that while Vladimir Voronin often appears in public and in the media as a domineering and sometimes even aggressive character, the Communist leader is in reality rather easy to manipulate. Calling Mark Tkaciuk “the Communists' éminence grise”, Taranu agreed with many political experts who think that Tkaciuk holds the effective control of the Communists Party. At the same time, Taranu says that Vladimir Voronin is the one who prevents the party from progressing because of his crude political abilities, and the party should blame him for its opposition status. “While being the party's locomotive, Voronin also reduces the capacity of the party to move forward. Exclude Voronin and the Communists Party would have been in government. A party that won 42 (out of 101) seats in Parliament cannot possibly be out of government. And Voronin is responsible for this failure,” said Anatol Taranu. Vladimir Voronin told reporters several weeks ago that he had already found a successor. Without giving names, Voronin described him as a likable tall man in his forties.