​VLADIMIR VORONIN APPREHENDS BALLOT RIGGING

The ex-President of Moldova, Chairman of the Communist Party MP Vladimir Voronin says he strongly apprehends that the CEG authorities will rig the November 30 parliamentary elections.

Voronin said on the N4 television channel on Thursday night, “First of all, falsification attempts will be undertaken inside Moldova. We all know how some political parties act. One of their methods will be traditionally the bribing of voters: they will deliver tons of macaroni, rice, buckwheat, sugar, vegetable oil and what not to villages and small towns to buy up provincial pensioners’ hearts. Even on the voting day, they will be giving about 500 lei to every person heading to polling stations to make them vote for a given party from the ruling coalition”, said the Communist Party leader.

In his words, problems continue to exist with the Voter Register, which contains erroneous information and thus offers falsifications possibilities.

“I suggest using the Population Register because over a million citizens are staying abroad, so these vacancies in the Voter Register offer much room for political swindling with voter lists. Besides this, the Government is going to open some 200 polling stations outside the country. Who will finance the delegating of observers to such stations? Nobody! That’s where we expect the biggest falsifications to take place”, said the ex-president.

Voronin said that in the forthcoming election campaign, the Communist Party will not be using political advertising massively because unlike the parties of power, the MCP has no money for this.

“Besides, we actually don’t need advertising. Last 4 years, we were visiting Moldovan towns and villages, holding hundreds of meetings with residents and explaining them what we want to achieve and who is ruling the country. And we are continuing this job – visiting every village, every home and meeting with every person. Our citizens, like the republic’s European friends, should hear the truth about those who are in power in Moldova. We will yet tell much interesting to our listeners”, promised the MCP leader.

Vladimir Voronin said the Communist Party is ready for the election campaign: it has prepared its election program, worked out slogans, and formed its electoral headquarter headed by MP Artur Resetnicov.

“We will make our election program public on September 30 or October 1, when election campaign will be officially launched in Moldova. Unlike the ruling coalition, we observe laws and do not start canvassing ahead of the law-stipulated time. The Communist Party’s election slogan sounds as follows: “Let’s Eradicate Corruption in Power and Improve Citizens’ Life””, said the party chairman.

According to him, one of the MCP’s priorities upon coming into power will be to bring home the Moldovans currently earning their living abroad.

“During the period of our staying in power [2001-2009], we had reduced the number of Moldovan gastarbeiters in foreign countries to 200 thousand from the previous 600 thousand. But starting from 2009, the number of our labor migrants began growing and has reached 1.1 million by now. These people ought to come home so as to work for the good of their native country”, said Vladimir Voronin.

He refused to comment President Nicolae Timofti’s decision to decorate 50 state officials with various orders and medals for their European integration successes.

“It is their business. They decide everything themselves, and decorate themselves. But citizens see everything. I don’t need any state awards. For me, the best award is to communicate and work with people”, said the MCP leader.

Earlier this week, Central Election Commission Chairman Iurie Ciocan stated in his interview with Infotag that the CEC is projecting to open about 100 polling stations abroad. He categorically ruled out even a possibility of falsifications because an electronic voter register will be used for the first time ever at the November 30 elections.