Communists’ success in Gagauz poll: signal for 2009 elections

Following the elections for the Gagauz People’s Assembly, the Moldovan Communists Party (PCRM) has managed to substantially improve its position in the autonomous unit and to set itself on its legs again after the defeat in the local elections of the last summer, the executive director of the Association for Participative Democracy “Adept”, Igor Botan, has stated for Info-Prim Neo. According to the final results, the local parliament will be formed from 21 independent MPs, 10 Communists and by two from the Democratic Party and from the Ravnopravie movement. Yet, Igor Botan suggests the real results should be looked at through the prism of the blocs formed before the poll. The bloc “For a Flourishing Gagauzia in a Renewed Moldova,” which had forwarded 34 candidates, actually has got 13 seats – 10 Communists and 3 independents. The Movement “Yedinnaya Gagauzia” had put up 21 candidates: independents, members of Ravnovpravie and of the Republican Party. This bloc has got 8 seats, including two from Ravnopravie. Two MPs are members of the Democratic Party. At the same time, Igor Botan specifies that out of 12 independents not joining either of the two blocs, 6 are associated with the mayor of the Comrat municipality, Nikolai Dudoglo. Thus, the experts maintains, out of those 21 “declared” independents, only six are genuine independents. Under these circumstances, the bloc formed from Communists and independents has the relative majority. Gagauzia’s governor, Mihail Formuzal, said on Monday, March 31, they would probably try to form a wide coalition, following talks. The harshest fights will be waged for the key positions in the People’s Assembly, says Igor Botan. Only after the portfolios are shared, one will be able to speak about the vigor of the majority in the People’s Assembly and the way it will cooperate with the Governor. So far the bashkan is certain they will make a wide coalition, hopefully friendly with him, the analyst says. The Communists’ success is certainly a signal for the 2009 elections, says Adept’s director. Both the elections from Gagauzia, and the ones from Rezina have shown the PCRM is managing to uprise after the very bad results of the local elections of 2007. It’s true: now the PCRM has got fewer seats than in 2003 in Gagauzia, when it got 16 seats. Anyway, so far it is not known how those 13 MPs from the bloc “For a Flourishing Gagauzia in a Renewed Moldova” will cooperate with Dudoglo’s group, says Igor Botan.