Parliamentary poll to take place Apr. 5

The Moldovan Parliament on Monday, at its first meeting after the winter recess, passed a unanimous decision to set the date for the parliamentary elections at April 5, Info-Prim Neo reports. The motion was put forward by three Communist MPs -- Vladimir Turcan, Irina Vlah and Anatolie Zagorodnyi. MP Vladimir Turcan, who is also the chairman of the parliamentary commission for appointments and immunity, underlined that the political parties may start shaping their lists on February 4. Lib-Dem leader Vlad Filat remarked that in these circumstances the parties are deprived of a part of the election campaign. Filat explained that the parties may start campaigning only after registering with the Central Election Commission. However, the electoral legislation stipulates that the campaign shall not be shorter than 60 days. MP Gheorghe Susarenco of the Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) recalled that it suggested the elections should take place on March 22, immediately after the expiry of the term of the current parliament, but the proposal was voted down by the parliamentary majority. “The parliamentary majority and its allies deferred the poll day as much as possible in order to take maximal advantage of the administrative and media resources. In fact, the election campaign started long ago, with the violation of all the international practices and the provisions of the Election Code, while the Communists and the Christian-Democrats have been poisoning the public opinion, gearing up for the campaign”, said Susarenco. In retort, Communist MP Anatolie Zagorodnyi said some of the legislators are trying to politicize this decision. “Some deputies try to bring arguments to imply that the red-orange coalition, as they call it, has already begun campaigning. But it was the AMN that started knocking at every door to distribute promotional leaflets as early as this summer”, said Zagorodnyi. The term of the current parliament, elected on 6 March 2005, expires on March 7, and according to Art. 61 of the Constitution and Art. 76 of the Election Code, legislative elections shall be held no later than in 3 months after the expiry.