FIVE PARTIES MAY COUNT ON SEATS IN NEW PARLIAMENT – POLL

If a parliamentary election had been held in Moldova next Sunday, five political parties could win seats in the new legislative forum, as per the findings of the opinion poll carried in April and May, 2017 among 12,322 citizens eligible to vote, residing permanently in 383 various-type populated areas across the republic.

The opinion poll was undertaken by the Lake Research Partners corporation of the United States by joint effort with the Moldovan Institute of Marketing and Surveys (IMAS) to order of the Moldovan Democratic Party.

According to the poll, the Party of Socialists (PSRM) would poll 39% ballots, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS, Maia Sandu) – 15%, the Democratic Party (Vlad Plahotniuc) – 8%, DA Platform and the Communist Party – 6% each.

Sixteen percent interviewed citizens stated they would not go to the polls or were uncertain about whom to vote for. Asked which party they would never vote for, 27% respondents stated – for the Liberal Party, 16% would not vote for the Democratic Party, and 12% – for the Socialists.

The researchers pointed out that data on all parties vary noticeably depending on questions, but the PSRM rating is substantially stable.

By the level of the population’s trust, President Igor Dodon maintains lead with 34%, followed by PAS Chairperson Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Pavel Filip – with 21% each.

Then go PSRM chairperson Zinaida Grechanaya (16%), Communist Party Chairman Vladimir Voronin (15%), DA Platform Head Andrei Nastase (13%), and Our Party leader Renato Usatii is trusted by 12%.

Parliament Chairman Andrian Candu and Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca are trusted by 10% citizens each, DP Chairman Vlad Plahotniuc – 8%, Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Viorel Cibotaru and Chairman of the European People’s Party of Moldova (EPPM) Iurie Leanca – 7%, Liberal Party Chairman Mihai Ghimpu – 3%.

57% interviewed citizens stand for changing the current proportional representation system, while 43% want to preserve it. Of the said 57% ‘reformers’, 40% would like to have the uninominal voting system and 17% – the mixed electoral system. As on the opinion poll period, a massive propaganda campaign for the uninominal voting system was in full swing across Moldova, and the much-spoken 2 bills on system change had not been approved yet.