Moldova's ambassador to Russia nominated for president

Andrei Neguta, Moldova's ambassador to Russia with concurrent accreditation to Kazakhstan and Armenia, has become the second candidate nominated by the Communists Party (PCRM) to run alongside the Communists' first choice Zinaida Greceanyi for the presidency of Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports. Neguta's nomination was endorsed by 16 Communist MPs. Ambassador Neguta came to Chisinau to register as candidate himself. According to the statement of incomes included in the application, the ambassador has earned roughly 104,000 lei ($9,250) from the start of 2008 until present, which is nearly a third of what Greceanyi stated – 288,000 lei ($25,620). The deadline for presidential nominations is Friday, May 22, 24h00. On May 20, Parliament failed to elect a head of state, as the opposition left the sitting altogether, leaving the 60 Communist MPs unable to choose a president, a procedure which requires at least 61 votes. A repeat presidential vote will be held on May 28. Greceanyi, who collected all the available votes in round one, remains the PCRM's first pick for president. However, the parliamentary opposition said they would boycott round two like they did on May 20, increasing prospects for early elections, which will be held if the second attempt to choose a president fails again. A former Communist MP in the 2001/2005 Parliament, Andrei Neguta was named Ambassador to Russia in November 2008, after being recalled from the post of envoy to the Council of Europe.