Pro-EU parties take narrow lead in Moldova's parliamentary pollsDecember 1, 2014 - 12:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Partial results from Moldova's parliamentary elections show that pro-EU parties have a narrow lead over those backing closer ties with Russia, BBC News reports. With 80% of the votes counted, the three pro-Western parties have about 44%. The opposition has 40%. No party appears to be able to form a government, and tough post-election bargaining is predicted. On the eve of the vote, one pro-Russian party was banned from the poll - a move criticized by Russia. The elections have taken on a wider significance in the shadow of the bloody crisis in neighboring Ukraine after the country’s former leadership made a last-minute U-turn, refusing to sign a landmark association and free trade deal with the EU. The partial results show that the pro-Russian Socialist Party has taken a lead with about 22% of the vote. The pro-EU Liberal Democrats are in second place with 19%. The party wants Moldova to achieve EU candidate status by 2017 and full membership by 2020. The second opposition party - the Communist Party - is running a close third with 18%. The party is a Soviet-era survivor that still uses the hammer and sickle as its symbol. Two other pro-Europe parties - the Democrats and the Liberals - are on 16% and 9% respectively. About 2.7 million people are eligible to cast their ballots, electing a single-chamber 101-seat parliament by a system of proportional representation. Parties need to get at least 6% of the vote to gain seats in parliament. The turnout was just under 56%. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |