Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Communists Still on Top in Moldova

April 29, 2008

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(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Communist Party of Moldova (PCRM) holds a large lead over all other political organizations in the country, according to a poll by the Institute of Public Policies and the Centre of Sociological Investigations and Market Surveys. 26.7 per cent of respondents would vote for the PCRM in the next parliamentary election.

Public support for five other parties—Our Moldova (MN), the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), the Liberal Party (PL), the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) and the Christian-Democratic People’s Party (PPCD)—stands below the 10 per cent threshold.

In 2001, Moldova became the first former Soviet Republic to democratically elect a communist administration. The PCRM won 49.9 per cent of the vote and 71 seats. The Parliament later picked Vladimir Voronin as president.

Legislative elections in March 2005 gave the ruling PCRM 56 seats—five less than the 61 required to elect a president—with 46.1 per cent of the vote. The Democratic Moldova Bloc (BMD) won 35 seats. In April, the Parliament re-elected Voronin to the presidency with 75 votes.

In 1940, the territory of Transnistria—which had been an autonomous area within Ukraine—was merged with Bessarabia to form the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. The territory became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Transnistria’s independence has not been acknowledged by any state.

On Apr. 25, Moldovan foreign minister Andrei Stratan discussed the current state of affairs, saying, "We are really optimistic that by the end of the year we will find a certain solution for the (Transnistria) problem. The necessary premises exist and all the partners involved (...) are interested in finding a solution for settling the conflict."

Polling Data

If parliamentary elections were organized next Sunday, which party would you vote for?

Communist Party of Moldova (PCRM)

26.7%

Our Moldova (MN)

6.5%

Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM)

6.3%

Liberal Party (PL)

4.6%

Liberal Democratic Party (PLD)

3.6%

Christian-Democratic People’s Party (PPCD)

2.6%

Source: Institute of Public Policies / Centre of Sociological Investigations and Market Surveys
Methodology: Interviews with 1,435 Moldovan adults, conducted from Mar. 23 to Apr. 14, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.