Nine parties may officially start campaigning

As of tomorrow (February 11), nine political parties may officially engage in the campaign for the April parliamentary elections, after the Central Election Commission (CEC) today approved the lists of candidates submitted by these parties on February 5 and 6, Info-Prim Neo reports. These are – 1. the Social Democratic Party (PSD), 2. the Liberal Party (PL), 3. the Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN), 4. the People's Christian Democratic Party (PPCD), 5. the Moldovan Communists Party (PCRM), 6. the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM), 7. the Democratic Party (PD), 8. the Moldovan Centrist Union (UCM), and 9. the European Action Movement (MAE) -- and will be listed on the ballot paper exactly in this order. Except for UCM, which presented a list with 97 names, all the parties wrote in the maximal allowed number of 103 candidates. The CEC also approved the electoral symbol of the parties, which will be imprinted on the ballot paper next to the name of the party. In addition, each party assigned a representative to the CEC. Starting tomorrow, the members of the Cabinet, district chairmen and deputy chairmen, mayors and deputy mayors, as well as heads and deputy heads of city districts, running for an MP's seat will have to suspend their jobs for the period of the campaign. Ten parties have so far applied for registration with the CEC, a stage needed to officially become an electoral competitor. The application filed by the United Moldova Party on Monday will be examined within 7 days. The other parties registered with the Ministry of Justice, as well as potential independent candidates, may apply for CEC registration until March 5, inclusive.