Communists still lead popularity polls

If parliamentary elections were held next Sunday, 47.2 percent of the persons determined to participate would vote for the Communists Party (PCRM), according to the Public Opinion Barometer for October, published Tuesday by the Public Policy Institute (IPP), Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the poll, those who favor PCRM are mainly elderly people, of Russian or Ukrainian nationality, having little education and low social and financial standing. The parties which stand a chance of passing the 6 percent threshold required to enter Parliament are positioned much lower in the poll: the Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) Party earned 11.1 percent; the Liberal Party (PL) 10.2 percent; and the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) 9 percent. The Democratic Party (PDM) would be the choice of 5.9 percent, followed by the Christian-Democratic People's Party (PPCD) with 4.9 percent percent, and the Social Democratic Party with 4.6 percent. The share of the undecided voters rose significantly from April's issue of the Barometer, from 26 percent to 38 percent. According to IPP director Arcadie Barbarosie, the traditional electorate of PCRM and PPCD is quite rigid, and it's unlikely that these parties will draw extra votes from the undecided camp. The pollsters remark a decrease in PDM's support (from 10.8 percent to 5.9 percent) and an evolution for PL (from 7.8 percent to 10.2 percent). Analyst Igor Botan ascribes PL's growth to the capacity of its leaders to “make events”. “PL vice president Dorin Chirtoaca earns support from voters thanks to the fact that he is under constant pressure from the government. As a mayor, he acts more like a politician rather than an administrator”, the analyst thinks. PCRM continues to enjoy the greatest confidence from the population (40 percent). AMN is trusted by 21 percent of the respondents, PL by 19 percent, PLDM 13 percent, PDM 12 percent, and PSD 12 percent. Among the politicians, President Vladimir Voronin remains the most trusted (41 percent, from 40.5 percent in April), followed by Speaker Marian Lupu (40 percent, from 34 percent in April) and Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca of Chisinau (35 percent, from 29 percent in the previous issue of the Barometer). With 12.6 percent, Marian Lupu has the highest chance of succeeding Voronin to the presidency, replacing ex-PM Vasile Tarlev, whose chances dropped from 13 percent to 7 percent. Roughly 52 percent of the polled population believe that Moldova is not governed by the will of the people. Some 40 percent think elections in Moldova are neither free nor fair. State institutions continue to inspire little confidence, with the lowest rates being recorded by political parties (14 percent), labor unions (16 percent) and police (28 percent). The survey was conducted in the period from September 26 to October 20 on a sample of 1,100 persons from 76 locations across Moldova, excepting the Transnistrian region, with a margin of error of ±3 percent. The questionnaire was elaborated by IPP. The poll was taken by the polling center Civis and verified by the Research Institute Magenta Consulting.