No fraud seen in Moldova vote; pro-West side wins

[July 30, 2009]  CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) -- Moldova's pro-Western parties scrambled to forge a governing alliance Thursday after beating Europe's last communist-run government in a parliamentary election praised by international monitors.

Near final results put four center-right opposition parties ahead of the Communist Party, which has ruled the impoverished former Soviet republic since 2001.

"The Communist Party lost the elections after an exhausting campaign where there were enormous pressures not just on the political parties, but also on the ordinary people," said Alexandru Tanase of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party.

He said his party was negotiating with the Liberal Party, Democratic Party and Our Moldova Alliance -- raising the likelihood that the nation will move out of Russia's orbit and closer to the European Union and NATO.

Other significant changes could be in the works for Moldova, one of Europe's poorest nations, since opposition parties also pledged more free market reforms, an independent justice system and greater press freedom.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which monitored Wednesday's vote, said Thursday it found no evidence of major fraud but raised concerns about "subtle intimidation and media bias" and called on the country to restore trust in the political process.

"Election day was well-organized and calm, and proceedings were generally assessed as positive" despite a "highly polarized atmosphere," the OSCE said.

There was no sign of unrest after Wednesday's vote, which was monitored by more than 3,000 foreign and Moldovan observers. Official turnout was just under 59 percent.

Moldova has been in political paralysis since April parliamentary elections sparked violent protests that left three people dead and hundreds arrested, with the opposition claiming that vote was rigged.

Wednesday's elections were called after parliament failed to elect a successor to outgoing President Vladimir Voronin, the leader of the Communists who has served the maximum two terms in office.

With 98 percent of the vote counted, the four opposition parties had 50.9 percent to the Communists' 45.1 percent. The opposition will likely get another boost from three parties whose votes will be redistributed because they didn't reach the 5 percent minimum to enter parliament.

"We will find a favorable solution to develop democracy in Moldova," Our Moldova Alliance leader Serafim Urechean said.

The election was overshadowed by economic woes. Moldova's average monthly wage is only $350 (euro245), and the International Monetary Fund warned its gross domestic product will tumble 9 percent this year.

The opposition fell short of taking enough seats in the 101-member assembly to elect a new president without having to negotiate with the Communists. Moldova's president wields considerable power as head of the armed forces and border police, and can also fire ministers, though he needs parliament's approval to dismiss a prime minister.

The pro-Europe victory likely also will help Moldova repair relations with Romania. Moldova imposed visa requirements on Romanians after Voronin accused the neighboring country of trying to overthrow his government during April 7 riots. Moldova was part of Romania until 1940, and gained its independence after the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.

Voronin said the "most important achievement" in Wednesday's vote was that "we were able to organize civilized and democratic elections."

[Associated Press; By CORNELIU RUSNAC]

Associated Press writers William J. Kole in Vienna and Alison Mutler in Bucharest, Romania, contributed to this report.

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