Moldovan presidential election canceled

PanARMENIAN.Net - Presidential elections in Moldova have been canceled after the parties failed to agree on possible candidates, raising the possibility of early parliamentary polls in the former Soviet republic.

The elections, scheduled for November 18, were called off after the date for candidate registration expired at midnight on Monday, November 14. If the parties fail to reach an agreement for the second time, early parliamentary elections would have to be called.

The country, which has been in political turmoil since parliamentary elections in April 2009, is run by acting president Marian Lupu, who is also the parliamentary speaker.

The opposition Communist Party said parliament should set a new date for presidential elections and that they should be held within the next 30 days.

“If no candidates are chosen, parliament will have to be dissolved and a date for early parliamentary elections established,” Sergei Syrbu of the Communist Party said.

Moldovan experts said leaders of the ruling Alliance for European Integration are embroiled in internal disputes and are unable to rescue the country from the crisis.

“The alliance is unable to unblock the situation,” said Nikolai Kirtoake, director of the Independent Institute for Strategic Research in Moldova.

He said the country would mostly likely have to hold early parliamentary elections again, RIA Novosti reported.

This is the third time Moldovan parliamentarians have failed to choose a presidential candidate since 2009.