Communists hopeful as Moldova votes

Moldovans are among the poorest people in Europe

Parliamentary elections have been held in the former Soviet republic of Moldova, with forecasts predicting increased backing for the Communists and their promise to remedy a decade of economic hardship.

Local media quoted the Central Election Commission as saying that by mid-afternoon, more than 50% of those eligible had voted, making the eventual outcome valid. Results are not expected until Monday.

Voters are expected to seize the chance to voice their anger at harsh market reforms, which have left many in grinding poverty.

Vladimir Voronin could be the new President

The early elections were triggered by a constitutional crisis late last year when the parliament was unable to agree who should be president, despite three attempts.

Since then Petru Lucinsky, the head of state whose mandate expired last month, has remained in the post in a caretaker capacity.

The election comes amid increasingly desperate economic conditions in Moldova, which is landlocked between Romania and Ukraine, with a population of around four million.

Communists banned

Since independence from the former Soviet Union a decade ago, Moldova has become one of Europe's poorest countries.

After independence, the Communist Party was banned for three years.

Today the Communists are likely to consolidate their position as the country's largest political party and hope to form a majority government.

Their leader, Vladimir Voronin, whose offices are adorned with portraits of Lenin and hammer and sickle motifs, might then become president.

The opinion polls are unclear on whether the Communists will do well enough to govern without coalition support.

Corruption rife

But what is certain is that with a bigger parliamentary presence their influence in economic policy will increase - and after a decade of half-hearted privatisation, they advocate state ownership of key industries including the potentially lucrative wine business.

Analysts say that what is really needed is a much more determined effort by those in power to reduce corruption.

Too often the proceeds of Moldova's extremely fragile economy are lost to fraudulent companies, tax evasion and attempted privatisations, which have diverted money from the state into the hands of a few individuals.