Communists Lead Polls in Moldova

The ruling Communists, former allies of Russia now turned toward the West, held an early lead in Sunday’s parliamentary election, an exit poll showed.

The Communists had 40% of the vote, followed by the centrist Democratic Moldova Bloc with 29% and the center-right Popular Christian Democratic Party with 14%, according to the poll funded by two independent TV stations. Moldova is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania.

The Communists and the two centrist groups were the only parties out of the 15 in the race to win enough votes to gain seats in the 101-member Parliament, according to the poll. There was no breakdown on seats won.

President Vladimir Voronin’s Communists would be able to form a government if the exit poll results hold up, though they may not have enough seats for a clear majority to keep the presidency. Parliament chooses the president and 61 votes are needed.

Voronin has been criticized for heavy-handed tactics with the opposition and tightly controlling state media. But he has led the country, one of Europe’s poorest, through four years of economic growth. His invective against Moscow has been a major issue in the campaign.

The balloting increased tensions between the two countries, whose ties are already strained over a breakaway region on Moldova’s eastern border. Russia fears it is losing influence in the former Soviet Union republics after the election of pro-Western leaders in Georgia and Ukraine last year.