Moldova’s incumbent President Igor Dodon, who is running for a second term of office as an independent candidate, has higher chances for a victory in the second round of the next month’s presidential elections than PAS candidate Maia Sandu, as per the findings of the opinion research Vox Populi, which were presented at Infotag by the Association of Sociologists and Demographers of Moldova today.     

According to the poll data, 32.5% respondents are ready to cast ballots for incumbent President Igor Dodon, and for Maia Sandu – 18.4%. Following next are DA Platform leader Andrei Nastase – 9.4%, Our Party Chairman Renato Usatii – 6.5%, Violeta Ivanov of Sor Party – 4.9%, National Unity Party (PUN) candidate Octavian Ticu – 1.6%, Tudor Deliu of the Liberal Democratic Party – 1.3%, and Dorin Chirtoaca of voting bloc Unirea – with 1.2%.   

With all this, 16.7% respondents were yet uncertain and said they did not trust any of the running candidates, and 7.5% said they do not want to go to the polls at all.  

The above figures were received from the group of the so-called ‘random respondents’. But in the other group – of the so-called ‘determined voters’ who know whom they will vote for, the findings were as follows: Igor Dodon would receive 42.9% and Maia Sandu – 24.3%.

The research has shown that if these two candidates are elected to the second round, Igor Dodon will win 47.5% and Maia Sandu – 38.4%. But if to cancel the uncertain respondents (14.1%), then Igor Dodon will win a victory with a proportion of 55.3% against Sandu’s 44.7%.
 
The opinion was carried out on October 11 through 20. It covered 1l83 people eligible to vote, residing in 79 various-type localities across the republic. The pollsters are saying the error should not be in the excess of ±3%.  

…THAT ALMOST HALF OF CITIZENS ARE APPREHENDING REPETITION OF APRIL 2009 EVENTS…

Nearly a half of Moldova citizens, namely 48.6%, are convinced that the events of April 7, 2009 [street youth protests that developed into a mass unrest due to discontent about parliamentary election results, which had not been drawn up by that moment yet] may repeat in Chisinau in the nearest time, as per the Vox Populi findings.   

According to the research, 33.9% respondents believe there will be no such repetition, and 17.5% failed to answer anything concretely. Also, 33.7% interviewed citizens voiced confidence the April 7 events were but a “color revolution organized by the West”, another 39.5% believe this version may be authentic, and 18% just ruled out such a possibility.  

At the same time, 20.2% respondents believe that the April 2009 events were “a political provocation organized by Russia”, though 62.7% do not believe in this.

35.3% are sure or believe that the 2009 unrest was a provocation staged by the West, but 49.1% dismissed such a possibility. And 19.9% respondents are sure or believe that it was the United States’ provocation, but 56.3% said it was not.   

Presently, 43.9% respondents are regarding the current socio-political situation in the country as tense, 31.2% -- as neither tense nor calm, and 19.3% as calm.    

…AND THAT NEXT MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT MAY CONSIST OF MAXIMUM FIVE PARTIES

If an early parliamentary election were held in Moldova next Sunday, not more than 5 political parties would have chances to be elected to the new forum – the Party of Socialists (PSRM), the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), the Sor Party, Our Party and the DA Platform party, as per the Vox Populi opinion research findings.     

At such a snap election, ballots would be as follows: PSRM – 31.2%, PAS – 17.4%, Sor Party – 8.6%, Our Party – 7.8%, and DA Platform – 5.2%. All the rest organizations would be not able to clear the 5% election threshold (the next on the list is the Democratic Party with 2.4%).   
 
However, 7.8% respondents were uncertain yet, and 16% stated they would not go to the polls.

The opinion was carried out on October 11 through 20. It covered 1l83 people eligible to vote, residing in 79 various-type localities across the republic. The pollsters are saying the error should not be in the excess of ±3%.