Should a presidential election be held in Moldova next Sunday, Party of Socialists Chairman MP Igor Dodon would become Moldova’s new head of state, as per the findings of the opinion poll called “Consequences of Economic and Political Reforms in Moldova: a Sociological Analysis”, carried out recently by the Association of Sociologists and Demographers.

 

Association Chairman Victor Mocanu said at a news conference at Infotag on Wednesday presenting the research findings that the respondents were asked to answer the so-called “closed” and “open” questions about who they would vote for at the presidential election.

 

On a “closed” question (when respondents were supposed to name candidates themselves), in case an election were held on the nearest Sunday, Party of Socialists leader Igor Dodon would receive 18.1% ballots, the Chairperson of the Action and Solidarity party [not registered yet] Maia Sandu – 12.4%, Partidul Nostru [Our Party] leader Renato Usatii – 10.9%, Chairman of the Party “Demnitate si Adevar” [DA, “Dignity and Justice”] Andrei Nastase – 10.3%, and all the rest politicians could count on less than 6% each.

 

In response to an “open” question (when respondents were offered a ready list of potential candidates), Igor Dodon would receive 32.1% ballots, Maia Sandu – 17.4%, Andrei Nastase – 11.9%. Renato Usatii was not included into the list because the Constitutional Court ruled recently that the presidential post may be held only by people aged 40 and older, while Renato Usatii is only 37.

 

The research has confirmed that an overwhelming majority (87%) of Moldova citizens believe that the President of the country must be elected directly by this very country, and only 7% think that such election should be entrusted to the Parliament.

 

Also, most respondents (79.8%) offered an opinion that parliamentarians in Moldova should be de-immunized, and that this should be decided through holding a referendum, while 6.9% are against such de-immunization.

 

And 89% respondents believe that the deputy corps in the 101-member Parliament of Moldova should be reduced, while 8% spoke against such reduction.

 

Asked which party they trust the most, 30% replied – the Party of Socialists, 25% – the DA Platform, 24% – Our Party, 20% – Action and Solidarity. The Democratic Party received 19%, the European People’s Party of Moldova (EPPM) – 18%, the Communist Party – 17%, and the Liberal Party – 15%. All the rest are trusted by less than 9% respondents each.

 

Asked how about holding a presidential election next Sunday, 72% responded positively and 9% negatively.

 

The researchers pointed out what they perceive to be an alarming fact: if a parliamentary election were held next Sunday, as many as each 10th voter would be uncertain, and 6% would not go to the polls at all.

 

Concerning the population’s trust in the Government of Pavel Filip, 60% respondents believe that the new Cabinet will manage to change the situation for the better.

 

Asked whether Moldova should get integrated into the European Union or the Eurasian Economic Union [of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, EAES], 36% citizens said – into the EU and 39% – into the EAES.

 

“The inferior statistic in favor of the European Union has apparently been because citizens have got disappointed and don't believe in the promises of politicians who talked so much that upon realization of reforms the situation should improve”, said Victor Mocanu.

 

The opinion poll was carried out among 1,189 residents of 75 various-level populated areas across Moldova on April 1 through 10. The pollsters are saying that error should not exceed ±3%.